2014 

110843 


liliCLA RATIONS 


AND 


STATUTES 


\ 




Glass 

Book 





l5*T7 





■• V 'Bs ■ 

/A-V )Jr%'- 

Wmi 



^^Vi>'':■ V ' ■ ^:y 


■ V ; 

J* I *jl4\^t 

f j 


, , 

A , , ♦vVV w 

-it r^“- 


■'. , ' -r' '-^f.,-; . .,.V 

. I* . 







» ,»• - 
• ^ V,'- ^ 

4 .' . ’* 


• 'l 






Declarations 


ON 

THE RULE OF Our holy 
FATHER St. Benedict 

AND 

Statutes 

(AMERICAN-CASSINESE 

■V 

Congregation. 


Permissu Superiorum 





^ F 

l^en eJ:J,CL^>S 


' 'N 



the abbey student press 
Atchison, Kansas, 





— 3 — 




Prot. n. 81279. 


DECREE. 


When the Rt. Rev. Dom Peter Engel, Pre¬ 
sident of the American-Cassinese Congregation 
of the OrSer of St. Benedict, had earnestly 
requested the Holy See finally to approve, with 
some added modifications, recommended by ex¬ 
perience, the Declarations on the Rule of St. 
Benedict and the Constitutions for the same 
Congregation, which, for the purpose of trial 
had already been approved for a period of 
ten years, the matter was referred, as was ne¬ 
cessary, to the Rt. Rev. Commission instituted 
for the examination of new Constitutions of 
Religious Institutes, under the Presidency 
of his Eminence Card. Francis Satolli. After 
hearing the vote of the Rt. Rev. Abbot Primate, 
and of the single abbots of the said Congregation, 
as also its General Chapter, the Rt. Rev. 
Commission held, that the said Declarations 
and Constitutions should be definitively ap¬ 
proved, provided there be inserted in the text 
the modifications, which are given in the copy 
attached. 

Accordingly this decision having been refer¬ 
red to our Most Holy Lord Pope Pius X, in 


-4 — 


an audience on the 14th day of April, 1908, 
by the undersigned Secretary of the Sacred 
Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 
His Holiness graciously approved and ratified 
the same in every thing and ordered the 
present Decree on this matter to be issued. 

Given at Rome from the Office of the Sacred 
Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 
on the 15th day of April, 1908. 

Fr. H. Ma. Card. Gotti, Pref. 

Aloisius Veccia, Seer. 


— 5 — 


DECLARATIONS ON THE RULE OF OUR 
HOLY FATHER BENEDICT, AND THE 
STATUTES OF THE AMERICAN 
CASSINESE CONGREGATION. 


I. 

Declarations 

on the Holy Rule. 


PROLOGUE. 

Jan. 7. May 8. Sept. 7. 

Declaration: “Never departing from his 
guidance.” 

I. Let the brethren with all diligence and 
vigor embrace the religious or monastic spirit, 
which the Prologue and so many chapters 
of the Holy Rule set before us in so admirable 
a manner, as by a mirror; and since this spirit 
is the sum and substance of the monastic life, 
we declare that every thing which the Patriarch 
has prescribed concerning it, shall be observed 
to the letter; so that, although some few things 




— 6 — 


may be wanting to our Congregation as to the 
outward manner of life, nothing however shall 
be wanting to it as to the spirit of the Rule 
of St. Benedict. 

2 . These Declarations, just as the precepts of 
the holy Rule itself, do not bind under sin, unless 
they touch the vows or the laws of the Church, 
or are violated through contempt or with scan¬ 
dal, or lessen the vigour of discipline. ^ But it 
must be remembered that these precepts can 
hardly ever be violated without some fault, '' 
this Declaration to the contrary notwithstan¬ 
ding. ^If any one transgress the Rule or the 
Statutes, he is bound under obedience to 
submit without fail to the correction or to the 
regular penance imposed by the Superior. 


CHAPTER I. and II.—No Declarations. 


CHAPTER III. 


Of calling the Brethren for Counsel. 

Jan. 16. May 17. Sept. 16. 

Declaration I. “Whenever any important 
matters are to be transacted.” 




- 7 ~ 


3 . Among important matters which can be 
transacted neither licitly nor validly without the 
consent of the Chapter must be counted alien¬ 
ations of real estate, of sacred and valuable 
furniture, of relics and antiquities of great 
importance, of writings and documents of the 
monastery, etc., whether the alienation is ef¬ 
fected by sale or agreement or exchange, 
or in any way included by the Sacred Canons 
and the Apostolic Constitutions among forbid¬ 
den alienations, unless permission has been ob¬ 
tained from the Apostolic See. Moreover, the 
consent of the Chapter must be asked to con¬ 
tract a large debt, that is, one that exceeds 
five, hundred dollars; also permanently to 
accept or relinquish the charge of a parish; 
to declare a community independent, and to 
found a new and independent monastery. 

4 . Moreover, the privilege of the title of 
maintenance (ti^lus ipensfe), the admission 
of novices to simple^ vows, and the receiving 
for life of a professed member of another monas¬ 
tery must also be settled with the consent of 
the Chapter. When one is dispensed from the 
triennial simple vows, only the consultive vote 
of the Chapter is required. 

Declaration 11. “Let the Abbot call to¬ 
gether the whole community.” 


— 8 — 


5. When the Abbot is absent, a Chapter 
can not be called without his permission to 
deliberate about such matters of importance 
as must be transacted with the consent of 
the Chapter. 

All the professed monks who are in higher 
Orders, whether solemnly or simply professed, 
who live in the monastery and who can easily 
be summoned to the Chapter, take part in 
the Chapter proceedings, unless on account of 
ecclesiastical or regular censure, any one should 
be debarred from the exercise of his privilege. 

Declaration III. “Let the brethren give 
their advice.” 

6. When the Superior has explained the 
matter which is under consideration, or on which 
a vote is to be taken, he will ask each one for 
his views, beginning with the younger, and 
lastly he will state his own views if necessary. 
He will then call for the votes, the majority 
of which shall decide the question. In case 
of a tie, the Superior or the chairman may have 
the deciding vote. 

In all matters, whether they are to be sub¬ 
mitted for ballot or simply for advice, the breth¬ 
ren will express what they think, with all the 
simplicity, freedom, and humility of a child. 


-9 — 


They will take care especially not to depart 
from the reverence due to their Father. When 
thus the Father’s government is truly affection¬ 
ate, free from all base impulses, and the de¬ 
votion of the children is such as godly zeal 
and the hierarchical order of the family demand, 
it cannot be but that those assembled in council 
are knit together more closely by intercourse 
into one heart and one soul. 

In order that the matter discussed and trans¬ 
acted may not be forgotten to the detriment 
of the monastery, the Superior will select a 
prudent and industrious monk as secretary of 
the Chapter. It shall be his business to write 
the minutes of the Chapter, the annals of the 
monastery, letters and documents to be for¬ 
warded, and to affix to them the seal of the 
monastery, and to commit to writing other 
matters at the wish of the Superior. 

Jan. 17. May 18. Sept. 17. 

Declaration IV. “Let him employ the 
counsel of the Seniors only.” 

7 . The Seniors, or Counsellors, are five, 
namely: the Prior, the Subprior, the Procurator, 
and two who are to be elected each year by the 
Chapter. But in non-Abbatial monasteries the 
Seniors are three: the Subprior, the Procurator, 


— 10 — 


and one to be elected by the conventual Chapter. 
The Superior will hold counsel with the Seniors 
about business to be laid before the Chapter, 
about more important ^matters, and expendi¬ 
tures of money in sums exceeding five hundred 
dollars above the ordinary wants and necessary 
expenses; about once a month also he will con¬ 
sult with them on the advancement of virtue 
and the regular discipline in the monastery. 
In this particular the Seniors should remember 
that they ought to excel the rest. 

8 . No one shall presume to make known or 
in any way to reveal to non-capitulars or to 
others who do not belong to the council of Sen¬ 
iors, matters that were treated of in secret in 
the Chapter or in the Councils, and that are 
not to be published. 


CHAPTER IV. No Declaration. 

CHAPTER V. Of Obedience. 

Jan. 23. May 24. Sept. 23. 

Declaration 1. “Obedience must be ren¬ 
dered by the disciples with a good will.” 

9 . A good will of this kind ought to be had 
also when any one thinks himself wrongfully 




— 11 — 


burdened with unjust commands or penances; 
for, mindful of religious obedience and modes¬ 
ty, let him check the first impulses of his soul, 
and afterwards, when his mind has calmed 
down, let him deliberate with himself without 
excitement, whether it is advisable to appeal 
to the Superior, or rather humbly to submit 
himself and bear his grievance in patience. 

Declaration II. “Not with murmuring, nor 
with an answer of unwillingness.” 

10 . But even if any one thinks he has a 
just reason to contradict or oppose the com¬ 
mands of his Superior, let him point it out with 
moderation, without quarreling, and the Superi¬ 
ors will surely weigh the matter seriously with 
themselves, and as far as it is right and it 
seems proper they will give in and yield. If this 
should not happen and a religious still thinks 
himself unjustly oppressed and burdened, he 
has redress in appeal, but he must observe 
both the regular order and due moderation 
and religious modesty; that is,if any one thinks 
himself unjustly punished by the Rev. Prior, 
or oppressed in any way, he can certainly 
appeal to the Rt. Rev. Abbot. However, when 
he is corrected, he should not then and there, 
on the spur of the moment, as it were, threaten 
with appeal,—a thing he could hardly do without 


— 12 — 


disrespect to his immediate Superior; but let 
him humbly take the correction or even the 
penance imposed, and suppress his first emoti¬ 
ons; and then, if after careful reflection he still 
thinks an appeal necessary, let him go to the 
Abbot. The appeal from the Abbot is made as 
laid down below in No. 130. 


CHAPTER VI. 

Of Reserve in Speech. 

Jan. 24. May 25. Sept. 24. 

Declaration. “Let permission to speak be 
given.” 

II. Let the brethren aim to observe silence 
religiously, that, according to the words of 
our Holy Father, they may escape sin and pre¬ 
serve interior recollection. / It is surprising 
how much aid this affords the soul to remain 
united with God, and perfectly to perform that 
most 'excellent of occupations, the Divine 
Office.V However, that the minds of the breth¬ 
ren may be refreshed and sweetly united, the 
custom of recreation and intercourse has been 
received down from the very beginning of the 
monastic life. We permit this custom aiter 
dinner for about an hour, or with the discreet 
permission of the superior, once in a while. 



-13- 


a little longer, and for about the same length of 
time also after supper. During Lent, however, 
recreation after supper is restricted to half an 
hour; the same restriction to half an hour is 
made after dinner on every Friday, unless a 
feastday of first or second class occurs, and on 
Ash-Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Good 
Friday. 

All the brethren shall be present at recre¬ 
ation, and no one shall separate himself except 
with permission. 

12 . Let the brethren take special care not 
to be forward, pertinacious, impertinent, over¬ 
bearing or personal in speech, so that no injury 
may be done to the family spirit, to godly re¬ 
serve and agreeableness of manners and to that 
Peace which is the legacy of our Holy Father 
St. Benedict, and a most agreeable spectacle 
to angels and men. 

Declaration II. “Scurrilities.” 

13 . To cut off occasions of scurrility or 
levity, we forbid the keeping of dogs, birds, and 
other pets in the cells. 


CHAPTER VII. No Declaration. 



— 14 — 


CHAPTER VIII. 

Of the Divine Office during the Night. 

Feb. 10. June 11 . Oct. 11 . 

Declaration. “At the eighth hour of the 
night.” 

14 . Let the brethren rise at a quarter to 
four, and at four o’clock say Matins and Lauds, 
unless perhaps for special reasons these are to 
be anticipated. In dependent houses, where 
at least four Priests or Clerics live together, the 
Divine Office should, as far as possible, be said 
in common. 


From CHAPTER IX. to XV. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

How the Work of God should be per¬ 
formed during the Day. 

Febr. 19. June 20 . Oct. 20 . 

Declaration I. 

15 . Besides the canonical Office and vocal 
prayer, the exercises of recollection or mental 
prayer are to be performed in our Congregation 




— 15 — 


with special fervor. Therefore a half hour’s 
meditation is made every morning; the same 
length of time is devoted to spiritual reading; 
and a sufficient length of time to the examina¬ 
tion of conscience, both particular and general. 

Besides these ordinary exercises, let all enter 
each year upon the sacred retreat, that is, 
the annual spiritual exercises or greater recol¬ 
lections, which must not be omitted by any 
one, whether the Abbot, the Prior, or any other 
official; but let the Abbot appoint a suitable time 
every year, during which he and the other reli¬ 
gious live retired lives in their cells or other 
suitable places, and devote themselves to 
contemplation and other exercises prescribed 
for interior recollection. 

Declaration II. 

16 . The conventual Mass is never omitted, 
and all who are not lawfully prevented are 
present. On Sundays and Feast days the Sup¬ 
reme liturgical function, that is, the conventual 
Mass, preceded by Tierce and followed by Sext,is 
chanted at a time suitable to the circumstances 
of the various monasteries. The monks should 
value this Sacred Function very highly, as it is 
the highest act of divine worship in the 
Christian religion, the most precious memorial 
of the passion of Christ our Lord, and the most 


/ 


— 16 


solemn pledge of charity for the members of the 
monastic family. It is proper that this sacred 
function should be celebrated also on other days, 
when according to time or place, the brethren 
are more free from external occupations. 


CHAPTER XVII. to XX. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

Of the Deans and Priors of the Monastery. 

Febr. 26. (27 ). June 28. Oct. 28. 

Declaration. 

17 . The custom of dividing our communities 
into deaneries has become obsolete. Instead of 
Deans the Abbot selects different officials to 
share his burden; that is, besides the Prior and 
the Subprior, [the Abbot selects also] the Procu¬ 
rator, the Guest master, the Cellarer, the Master 
of Novices, and others, to all of whom applies 
what our Holy Father Benedict says here about 
the Deans. 

In all our monasteries, let Father Prior 
always be with the Community in the choir and 
at the table; and in those points which pertain 
to divine worship or religious perfection, let 




— 17 — 


him both take the lead by his good example, 
and teach and direct others by word, admoni¬ 
tion, and correction. 

When the Abbot is hindered or absent, let 
the Prior hold the Chapter of Faults once a 
week, in which those of the Community who 
have been guilty of any negligence or fault, 
accuse themselves, as is the custom of religious, 
confessing their faults and accepting the penance 
imposed. 

18 . Let the Prior correct and punish lighter 
faults; let more serious matters, which call for 
graver censure or more efficacious treatment, be 
referred to the Abbot. 

19 . The office of the Prior and of the other 
officials of the monastery are not for life, and 
no special reason is required to make a change. 
But every year, in the Chapter which is to be 
held by the Abbot, all the officials of the monas¬ 
tery will resign their charges of their own accord, 
and give up their keys to the Abbot, in whose 
discretion it shall be to accept the resignation, 
or further to entrust these charges to their 
former incumbents. 



CHAPTER XXII. 


How the Monks should sleep. 

Febr. 27. (28.) June 29. Oct.29 

Declaration. “Let them sleep in one apart¬ 
ment.” 

20 . The priests of the monastery sleep in 
their cells, since they have apartments of their 
own. 


21 . Both the Fratres Clerics and the Con¬ 
verse Brothers have their own common dormi¬ 
tories, in which a light shall burn all night. 

22 . In walking through the dormitory the 
brethren will behave so as not to break the 
stillness of the night. 

23 . None of the brethren are permitted 
to enter the cell of an absent Father without 
the permission of the Superior. 

24 . When any one is about to enter the cell 
of another he will knock gently at the door and 
wait till he is invited to come in. Boys shall 
at no time enter the bed-rooms or cells of the 
religious either for receiving lessons or for doing 
any work. 


-19- 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

Of Excommunication for Faults. 

Febr. 28. (29.) June 30. Oct. 30. 

Declaration. “If a brother is found stub¬ 
born.” 


25 . The manner of correcting the faults 
and neglects which the brethren may commit 
through human frailty, is left to the prudent 
judgment of the Abbot or Superior, debarring 
the infliction of corporal punishment. 


CHAPTER XXIV. to XXVII. No Declaration 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Of those who having often been cor¬ 
rected do not amend. 

March 5. July 5. Nov. 4. 

Declaration. “The sword of separation.” 

26 . The Rt. acting with 

the advice of the* t^tor s, has the power to dis¬ 
miss from the Coiigregation those of the monks 
who have 

cases, especially for remote places and regwnsf 






— 20 — 

the Rt. Rev. P resident , acting with the advice 
aforesaid, can subdelegate at least three good 
and prudent religious to decide on the dismissal. 
Although neither a regular trial nor the ordinary 
forms of judicature are required to decide on 
the dismissal of such monks, but may be pro¬ 
ceeded with after a simple examination into 
the truth of the case, still the Rt. Rev. 
must exercise all charity and prudence in the 
matter, having regard only to just and reason¬ 
able grounds, and disregarding any human mo- 
^ tive, otherwise his conscience may remain se- 

j^i^^A^^riously burdened. No one, however, can be 
dismissed^c^n^count of an ailment which has set 
- in after simple^vows have been made*^ Special 
must be had to the Decre^“Auctis 
^ admodum,” of the S. Congr. of Bishops and 

Regulars, Nov. 4. 1892. In the event, however, 
that this extreme measure of expulsion, which 
God forbid, is to be employed against any monk 
who has solemn vows, the Superiors of the monas¬ 
teries and the Visitors, after consulting with the 
Rt. Rev. President, and taking into account 
the nature of the case and the circumstances 
of the times, should see what, in accordance 
with the prescriptions of the Sacred Canons, is 
best to be done. 




— 21 — 


CHAPTERS XXIX. and XXX. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

Of the Cellarer of the Monastery. 

March 8. July 8. Nov. 7 . 

Declaration I. “Let a wise man be chosen 
from the brotherhood.” 

27. The Cellarer, whom we call Procurator, 
is appointed in the monastery by the Superior, 
and assumes the care and management of the 
temporal affairs. It is his business both to 
make all purchases and payments, and to manage 
the income and the community property. He 
will therefore provide whatever is necessary 
for the common wants of life, food and clothing, 
or the repair of the buildings, yet so as to avoid 
all superfluity. 

Declaration //. “Let him do nothing with¬ 
out the command of the Abbot.” 

28. The Procurator is dependent on the will 
of the Superior, so that he will do what the 
Superior orders or directs, but will not attempt 
what he disapproves. On this account the 
Procurator will often consult with the Superior 



22 — 


about the matters entrusted to him, that noth¬ 
ing may be overlooked; he will also keep the 
account-books and a day book in which he 
enters all the cash and kind received, bought 
or sold, and these accounts he will lay before the 
Superior every month, and every three months 
also before the Seniors; and at the end of the year 
he will give an account before both, of all trans¬ 
actions, -receipts, and expenditures, assets and 
liabilities. 

March 9 . July 9 . Nov. 8. 

Declaration III. “Let assistants be given 
him.” 


29. If the Procurator needs help, he is to 
receive assistants to lighten the burden of his 
office. Among these are reckoned the butler, 
the depositary, the master of the wardrobe, 
the chief steward, the foreman, the gardener, 
and others. The Procurator will carefully 
oversee these household officials, and to spur 
them on to perform their work diligently, 
he will often inspect their departments, and, 
at the command of the Superior will himself 
admonish those of the Converse Brothers and 
domestics whom he finds negligent, or report 
them to the Superior. 


- 23 - 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

Of the Tools and the Goods of the Monastery. 

March 10 . July 10 . Nov. 9 . 

Declaration. “And assign to them all articles. ’ ’ 

30. When monks are sent from one monas¬ 
tery to another, they are not allowed to take 
with them or ship books other than those which 
are directly necessary, nor to buy books without 
the knowledge of the Superior, or against his 
will. However, in order that books necessary 
for the prosecution of sacred and other science 
may be on hand, every Superior should take 
pains to buy up books for the library. The 
Superior, or whoever is assigned to this charge, 
is to exercise special care in arranging and pre¬ 
serving the library and making a catalogue. 

31. Librarians will take care not to lend 
books to any one outside of the monastery, not¬ 
withstanding the assurance of their being speedily 
returned; because experience teaches that books 
thus given out, owing to forgetfulness, indif¬ 
ference, death, or other cause, are often lost 
and are never brought back to the monastery. 
However, if a special reason at rare intervals 
urges the loan of one or the other book to an 
applicant, it should not be done except with the 
knowledge of the Superior and an agreement in 


— 24 — 


writing to return the book; and this not now 
and again, but rarely, and only for a short time, 
expressed in the agreement. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Whether Monks ought to have anything of 
their own. 

March 11. July 11. Nov. 10. 

Declaration L “This vice must be cut off 
by the very root.” 

32 . What is here said of holy poverty, the 
brethren will observe to the letter. In order 
therefore, that no one may presume to give or to 
receive anything under what pretext soever, with¬ 
out the command of the Abbot, all the brethren 
will once a year, at the beginning of Lent, 
give a list of everything to the Abbot, or if he 
is absent, to the Prior, whose duty it shall be 
to retrench all superfluities. 

Declaration 11. “But nothing at all.” 

33 . Gold watches, with or without gold 
chains, canes mounted with gold or silver 
knobs or handles, and gold and silver snuff¬ 
boxes, are not to be allowed under any pretext 
whatever. 



— 25 — 


CHAPTER XXXIV. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER XXXV. 

Of the weekly Servers in the Kitchen. 

March 13. July 13. Nov. 12 . 

Declaration. “Let them serve each other.” 

34 . Since Holy Church advances monks, or 
those professed for the choir service, to the priest¬ 
hood, in consequence of which they devote them¬ 
selves to divine and ecclesiastical functions 
and the various liberal arts, the service of the 
kitchen is entrusted to Converse Brothers or 
to lay persons. 


CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Of the sick Brethren. 

March 15. July 15. Nov. 14. 

Declaration L “A cell set apart for them.” 

35 . Where the sick ought to be taken, is 
left to the option of the Superior. 




- 26 - 


Declaration II. “A God-fearing attendant.” 

36 . The Superior will appoint one of the 
monks Infirmarian, who takes care of the sick 
in the monastery, and whom the sick brethren 
must obey. The utensils of the infirmary are 
entrusted to him, of which he will keep a list. 
It is his duty to accompany the physician when 
he visits the sick and, if prudence suggests it, 
to see that the medicine and the treatment are 
not prescribed for the sick in their hearing. 
He must not neglect to inform the Prelate of 
the condition of the sick, and to ask him for 
supplies if any are needed. No one is allowed 
to call the regular physician or another, 
or to ask his advice, whether orally or 
in writing, without the permission of the Superi¬ 
or. All the brethren should be disposed to as¬ 
sist the sick in every possible way as far as may 
be necessary; whether night watches are re¬ 
quired, or other acts of charity and religion. 
For in the sick brother, who is a chosen member 
of Jesus Christ, they embrace our Lord with 
all affection, devotion, and piety more than 
in any other. 

Declaration III. “As often as it is expedient.” 

37 . The brethren shall not be allowed to go 
away from the monastery unless for sufficient 
reasons. Frequent walks should, however, be 


-27- 


granted to all, for thus the bodily health is 
more easily preserved. 

Declaration IV. “That the sick are not 
neglected.” 

38 . This injunction applies not only to things 
corporal but also to things spiritual; that is, 
the sick should be admonished not to omit 
confession and communion at the usual times, 
on account of their sickness; nay, the Prelates 
should exhort them to go to confession and 
receive Holy Communion more frequently. 


CHAPTER XXXVH. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER XXXVHI. 

Of the weekly Reader. 

March 17. July 17. Nov. 16. 

Declaration. “The reading must not be 
wanting.” 

39 ; The following order will be observed 
in the reading at table; at dinner the Holy 
Scriptures are read first; after that the Lives 
of the Saints, or ecclesiastical history, or other 
works which tend to edify and instruct; at 




— 28 — 


supper let something be read from the above 
mentioned according to the direction of the 
Superior; but at the end of either dinner or 
supper let the reading be from the holy Rule 
in the vernacular, with its appropriate declara¬ 
tion. 


CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Of the Measure of Food. 

March 18. July 18. Nov. 17. 

Declaration I. “For the daily refection.” 

40 . As to the measure or the amount and 
kind of food, due regard must always be had 
in all monasteries to frugality and religious 
poverty, doing away above all things with what 
is superfluous. 

41 . We believe however that two kinds of 
food, or solid and substantial dishes, beside a 
mess of pulse, vegetables and meal crumbs are 
sufficient for an ordinary meal. The Abbot, 
however, has the power, given him by the Holy 
Rule, to add something besides, if on account of 
the work or other reasonable cause it seems 
expedient. 


? 



— 29 — 


Declaration II. “One refection.” 

42 . Over and above the fasts of the Church, 
a fast of the Rule will be kept in all our monas¬ 
teries on Wednesday, except during the Easter 
season, and from Christmas to the Octave of 
Epiphany, and on feast days of the first and 
second class. 

Declaration III. “One pound of bread.” 

43 . We wish to hold to our custom, namely, 
that as much bread be served as each one needs. 

Declaration IV. “Let them abstain from 
eating the flesh of four-footed animals.” 

44 . Taking into account the infirmity of 
our times, the climate of the country, and the 
rigor of the seasons, all of which call for more 
solid food, the eating of flesh-meat is allowed 
to the brethren, on the days on which it is not 
forbidden in the aforesaid. In the fasts of the 
Church it is allowed to follow the usage of the 
the place or the Apostolic Indult granted for 
the diocese. 


CHAPTER XL. 

Of the Measure of Drink. 

March 19. July 19. Nov. 18. 

Declaration. “Let that depend on the judg¬ 
ment of the Superior.” 


I 



— 30 — 


45 - On the more solemn feastdays and on 
extraordinary occasions, the Abbot can allow 
another pint of beverage, which is taken by way 
of refreshment in the place of recreation. 


chapter XEI. 

At what times the Brethren should take their 
Refection. 

March 20. July 20. Nov. 19. 

Declaration. “Let them dine at the sixth 
hour.” 

46 . The hour of dinner is about midday; 
that of supper and collation about six o’clock 
in the evening. 


CHAPTER XLII. 

That no one speak after Complin. 

March 21 . July 21. Nov. 20. 

Declaration. “Let one read the conferences.” 

47 . Let the Abbot, or at his request the 
Prior, hold an occasional discourse during the 
year to the monastic family, in order to in¬ 
struct the monks in the Christian doctrine and 
the duties of their state. 




— 31 — 


CHAPTER XEIII. 

Of those who are tardy in coming to 
the Work of God or to Table. 

March 22. July 22. Nov. 21. 

Declaration I. “Eet them hasten with 
all speed.” 

48 . In accordance with the general custom 
in monasteries, when any one comes to choir 
after the Psalm “Venite” at Matins, or at the 
other Hours after the beginning of the first 
Psalm, even when he has a good reason, which 
however is not known to the others, and which 
has not been generally approved as such by the 
Superiors, let him not go to his accustomed 
place, but for a short time let him remain kneel¬ 
ing in the middle of the choir, or other place 
appointed by the Superiors for such negligent 
and tardy. 

March 23. July 23. Nov. 22. 

Declaration 11. “That all may say the verse 
and pray together.” 

49 . The brethren will salute the crucifix 
by bowing the head and the shoulders, whether 
they go into or out of the refectory. He who 


comes late to table will excuse himself with the 
Superior. 


CHAPTER XLIV. 

Of those who are excommunicated, 
how they make satisfaction. 

March 24. July 24. Nov. 23. 

Declaration. “Let them make satisfaction.” 

50 . How the excommunicated shall make 
amends, is left to the judgment and discretion 
of the Superior. 

CHAPTER XEV. 

Of those who commit a Fault in the Oratory. 

March 25. July 25. Nov. 24. 

Declaration. “If anyone maketh a mistake.” 

51 . If, while reciting Psalms, one of the 
brethren make such a mistake, that confusion, 
stoppage, or a general error in the divine Office 
results from it, or he must repeat, or another 
must begin,or intone instead,he will kneel in the 
middle of the choir at the end of the office, 
namely, during the antiphon of the Blessed 
Virgin. In like manner should he make satis¬ 
faction, who was absent from a canonical Hour. 




— 33 — 


CHAPTER XLVL 

Of those who fail in any other Matters. 

March 26. July 26. Nov. 25. 

Declaration I. “Before the Abbot.” 

52 . If while at work any one commits a 
fault, or breaks or spoils anything, he will 
accuse himself of his mishap in the next Chapter 
of Faults. 

Declaration II. “Let him disclose it to his 
spiritual superiors. ’ ’ 

53 . We decree that all members, whether 
monks in Orders or Converse Brothers, will go 
to confession at least once a week. The Prelates 
may not omit to punish those whom they 
find negligent in this. 


CHAPTER XLVII. 

Of giving the Signal for the Time of the 
Work of God. 

March 27. July 27. Nov. 26. 

Declaration. “Who is able to perform this 
office.” 



— 34 — 


54 - Therefore we ordain that the Superiors of 
the monasteries see to it that the young monks 
be carefully instructed by learned monks in 
the liberal sciences, in philosophy and theology, 
and plain chant. 

55 . While those monks of our Congregation 
whom their Abbots deem fit should be 
sent to the College of St. Anselm at Rome, 
founded for the benefit of the whole Order by 
the favour and bounty of Pope Leo XIII., of 
happy memory. 


CHAPTER XLVIII. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER XLIX. 

# 

Of the keeping of Lent. 

MarchSl. July 31. Nov. 30. 

Declaration. “The Lenten observance.” 

56 . This Chapter is to be read at the begin¬ 
ning of Lent before all, and the Abbot will ad¬ 
dress and exhort them to observe those points, 
which our Holy Father requires in this chapter, 
and which the spirit of the holy season demands. 






— 35 — 


57 * Moreover, let the Fathers, Clerics, and 
Converse Brothers take to the Abbot a list of 
the good works, or special exercises, which they 
propose to offer to God during Lent, over and 
above their usual observance, and let them 
ask his approval and blessing for them, so that 
the merit of these good works may be increased, 
performed as they are, not of their own choice, 
but by the will of their Superior. 


CHAPTER L. 

Of Brethren who work a long Distance 
from the Oratory or are on a Journey. 

April 1 . Aug. 1. Dec. 1 . 

Declaration. “Are at work too far away.” 

58 . All religious ought to bear in mind that 
outside of the monastery also, they are monks, 
and that they are bound to observe everything 
that the Holy Rule prescribes, as far as the 
inconveniences of travel and the business en¬ 
trusted to them will permit. 

59 . In virtue of their appointment to the 
Priorship all dependent Priors have also from 
the Abbot the delegation to command their 
subjects whatever the Abbot, if present, could 
discreetly enjoin, and also to give a salutary 



— 36 — 


penance to those who would refuse to obey the 
commands, or also to impose such punishments 
as the Abbot could rightfully impose, saving 
always the right of appeal, although in the 
meanwhile the sentence of the Prior is not sus¬ 
pended. 

6 0. In all houses dependent on the 
Abbey, a sign with the bell should be given at 
nine o’clock for night prayers to be said together; 
afterwards nocturnal silence according to the 
precept of the Holy Rule should be carefully 
observed. 

6 1. Above all, let them endeavor to recite 
the Canonical Office at the proper time, and to 
say it with attention and devotion; let them not 
neglect the celebration of Mass without a 
grave reason; let them always and everywhere 
be mindful of religious poverty, frugality, and 
sobriety; in conversation with seculars, let them 
show gravity and reserve, and let them 
give no cause for scandal, or any reason 
in the least to talk bad of themselves or 
their monastery. A monk shall not remain 
alone in a parish or on a mission, unless there 
is hope, that within three years, he can have 
at least one companion, and in time also more. 
If the Abbot desires to prolong the time be¬ 
yond that, he should ask the consent of the 
General Chapter. 


37 — 


CHAPTER EL 

Of Brethren who do not go very far away. 

April 2. Aug. 2. Dec. 2. 

Declaration. “Let him not presume to eat 
outside.” 

62. Monks who are on a journey or other¬ 
wise staying outside of the monastery, should 
be mindful of religious poverty, frugality and 
sobriety. Excepting in case of necessity they 
should not stay in hotels or in the houses of 
seculars. 


CHAPTER LIE 

Of the Oratory of the Monastery. 

April 3 . Aug. 3 . Dec. 3 . 

Declaration. “To stay in the Oratory.” 

63. Let the Superior appoint one of the 
priests as sacristan, and as occasion calls for 
give him an assistant or several. Let the 
sacristan have a high regard for the duties 
of the sacred office to which he has been appoint¬ 
ed, and let him be well versed in the Sacred 
Rites. Let him be solicitous for everything 



— 38 — 


that belongs to the church, and handle all its 
sacred utensils with great reverence. Let him 
provide everything in season, and do it with all 
possible care, so that all things which belong 
to the divine service are clean, done up with 
propriety and taste. Father Prior will arrange 
the tablet for the time and the order of the 
masses. 


CHAPTER LIII. 

Of the Reception of Guests. 

April 4. Aug. 4. Dec. 4. 

Declaration /. “Due honor.” 

64 . Times and customs have so changed, 
that the particulars which this chapter pre¬ 
scribes about the way to receive guests, 
especially that about the washing of the feet, 
which were religiously carried out in former 
times, cannot be literally observed at the present 
day. Guests will therefore be received in the 
way that was customary up to the present 
in all well regulated monasteries; that is, 
charitably, politely, and with kindness, treating 
them with the deference due to their rank 
and station, however, without extravagance, yet 



— 39 — 


having due regard to what necessity and propri¬ 
ety demand. 

65- Whenever the brethren of our Congre¬ 
gation on their journey arrive at any of our 
monasteries, they must join in the community 
life, so that the regular discipline may not be 
disturbed; let them be present at the Divine 
Office and the Chapter of Faults, the same as if 
they were conventuals there, unless perhaps 
they are feeble and sick or are engaged in work. 
This matter we leave to the discretion of the 
Prelates. 


April 5. Aug. 5. Dec. 5. 

Declaration II. “On no account let anyone 
who is not ordered to do so associate or 
speak with guests.” 

66 . No one of the brethren may take a guest 
to a cell, except the one to whom the Superior 
has given the permission. 



— 40 — 


CHAPTER EIV. 

Whether a Monk should receive Letters 
or anything else. 

April 6 . Aug. 6 . Dec. 6 . 

Declaration, “To receive or to give.” 

67 . We forbid the sending or receiving 
of letters except through the hands of the Supe¬ 
rior, whose right it is to open, and, if he 
wishes, to read them. All are allowed to open 
letters addressed to them by the Superior 
of their Monastery, or of the Congregation; all 
the more those addressed to them by the Holy 
See; they are also free to write to them. More¬ 
over, to prevent certain unpleasantness, no one 
is allowed to have essays or treatises, letters 
or other such writings published in periodicals 
or the daily papers without the knowledge 
or advice of his Superior. Let no one presume 
to bring new books or periodicals into the 
monastery, except with the permission of the 
Abbot; and we desire him by all means to exam¬ 
ine such books and periodicals carefully, 
and consider well before he gives the permission. 
As to the reading of newspapers, let all. Superi¬ 
ors as well as inferiors, take good care not to 
stay at it with loss of time. 


— 41 — 


CHAPTER EV. 

Of the Clothing and the Foot-gear of the 
Brethren. 

April 7. Aug. 7. Dec. 7. 

Declaration I. “According to the circum¬ 
stances of the place. ” 

68 . Let the outer clothing of the brethren, 
or that which can be seen by lookers-on, be of 
black color, of not too poor a quality, nor yet 
too fine and costly; but respectable, and such 
as is generally used in monasteries of our Order. 
As to the cut let uniformity in all clothing be 
observed in the monasteries of our Congregation. 

Declaration II. * ‘ We believe to be sufficient. ’ ’ 

69 . The monastic dress consists of a habit, 
a belt, a scapular, a capouch, and a cuculla; 
the latter is received when the brethren make 
solemn vows. 

The Clergy and the religious who live in these 
parts cannot wear the tonsure. 



— 42 — 


CHAPTER LVI. 

Of the Abbot’s Table. 

Apr. 9. Aug. 9. Dec. 9. 

Declaration, “The Abbot’s Table.” 

70 . It is good for the domestic affairs and the 
temporal standing of the monastery, as also 
for the spiritual edification, charity, and con¬ 
solation of .the religious, that the Abbots 
ordinarily attend the common table with the 
brethren, as far, namely, as they are not hin¬ 
dered by guests or other reasonable causes. 
In order, hov/ever, that the Rt. Rev. Abbots 
may not be kept away too often from the com¬ 
mon table by a guest, they may, considering 
the person, take him along to the community 
table in the refectory, provided it is agreeable 
to him and it seems to be for his edification. 
This course must not however give rise to any 
inconvenience either as to silence and the table 
reading, or the usual time for beginning and end¬ 
ing the meal, nor must it cause any disorder in 
the house. 



-43 — 


CHAPTER EVIL 

Of the Artists of the Monastery. 

April 10. Aug. 10. Dec. 10. 

Declaration. “If there be skilled workmen.” 

71 . Since the eleventh century there exists 
in monasteries the institute of Converses, or 
Day Brothers, distinct from the monks, in 
order that God’s house may not be without 
men to perform the ordinary manual and heavier 
work. Though the Brothers do not make 
solemn vows, yet they are truly religious, and 
form a part of the monastic family. Therefore 
no one is admitted among them unless he is 
truly called to the religious life, has learned some 
respectable and useful trade, or is at least able 
to learn one, and has given sufficient proof of 
perseverance and soundness of mind and body. 
After they have been tried a while in secular 
dress they receive the habit. 



— 44 — 


CHAPTER LVIII. 

Of the Manner of admitting Brethren. 

April 11 . Aug. 11. Dec. 11. 

Declaration I. “One who newly cometh.” 

72 . Every Abbey shall have its own Novi¬ 
tiate, to be established according to the norm 
prescribed by the Apostolic decrees. The Abbots 
or Superiors of other monasteries in which 
for any cause Novices cannot well be educated, 
are allowed to send their Novices with the 
consent of the Chapter to any Novitiate of our 
Congregation. 

In as far as the regulations of laws of the 
places do not interfere, all who ask to be admit¬ 
ted to the religious habit, and others who 
wish to remain for a time in the monasteries 
of our Congregation, are bound by a special form 
of agreement not to demand any pay for their 
work. The said form of agreement will be 
drawn up so as to conform to the laws and 
customs of each place. 

Declaration II. “Depart freely.” 

73 . In order that the qualities of the novices 
who are instructed in the Tyrocinium may be 
known betimes, and therefore can the more safe- 


— 45 — 


ly be admitted to their profession when the 
time comes, we decree that during the year of 
trial all the novices shall be subjected by the 
Abbot and the capitulars to three canvasses. 
The first canvass will be made after two months 
from the beginning of the novitiate; the second 
after six, and the third after eight months. 
In each of these canvasses the Master will 
give an account of the behaviour of the novice, 
and the capitulars will carefully weigh his 
manners, progress, and life. In order that 
everything may proceed peaceably and with 
freedom, we desire that, if there is any one in 
the community who is related to the respective 
Novice, by blood or marriage, down to the 
third degree exclusively, even if he be the Su¬ 
perior himself, he will leave the Chapter during 
the time of the discussion; but in giving his 
vote he will attend the Chapter like the rest. 
After making simple vows all remain under the 
discipline of the Master of Novices or a spiri¬ 
tual director until they are ordained priests. 
Once every year a canvass shall be held in 
the Chapter on the Neo-professed until they 
have m.ade solemn vows, (on the Converse 
Brothers till they have made perpetual vows). 



— 46 — 


April 12 . Aug. 12 . Dec. 12 . 

Declaration III. “Let him be received into 
the community. ’ ’ 


74 . ( See Decree '' Auctis Admodum'' of 

the S. C. of Bishops and Regulars dated 4. 
Nov. 1892.) That is to say, to make his simple^^ 
for solcmn vows can be validly made 
only after three years have elapsed. ^he^imple 
vb(ws are perpetual on the part of th^ professed, 
^ and the dispensation of these simple vows is 

reserved to the Roman Pontiffl stiHThey can 
be annulled ate) on the part 01 the Order, by 
the act of dismissal (about this dismissal there 
is speech in Declaration No. 26.), so that when 
the dismissal has taken place, the professed 
by that fact becomes. fr,ee frprn every tie and 
obligation of said sini^e^ vows, and is also 
deprived of all rights and privileges of religious. 




The Converse Brothers, however, make tri¬ 
ennial vows, and after that perpetual simple 
vows; but the latter not before they are twenty 
one years old. The obligation, however, is of 
such a nature, that Converse Brothers cannot be 
dispensed fronx^^hese-^yews by the Superior, 
ei^er from-tLe-triennial vo^^ during: Ahe three 
yeaars^^from the perpetual vows. In other re¬ 
spects we declare that as Converse Brothers are 
free to leave the Congregation as soon as the 


— 47 — 


three years of the first vows have passed, so 
they can likewise be dismissed by Superiors for 
just reasons after these three years. 

75 . And because Converse Brothers ought 
also to perform some devotional task for God, 
they will recite daily at a time appointed by 
the Superior, morning, noon, and evening, the 
third part of the Rosary, with the Litanies 
approved by the holy See. They will always 
be present at the common meditation, and 
serve or at least attend Mass every day. They 
will devoutly visit the Blessed Sacrament, and 
not neglect their spiritual reading, nor the 
daily examinations of conscience. 

76 . Let a prudent and experienced monk 
be appointed over them, to guide them in 
the way of obedience and humility, to instruct 
them in Christian dcctrinc, the precepts of the 
gospel, and the Rule, and to teach them the 
manner of serving at Mass with becoming 
reverence and decorum. Let heed be given 
also that on holy days they do not give them¬ 
selves up to idleness, but apply themselves to 
prayer and devout reading; and let the word 
of God be explained for them according to 
their understanding, by the same monk, 
or by another appointed for them. Moreover, 
let them everywhere stand last behind the 


— 48 — 


monks, according to their order; but in the 
refectory they eat at a separate table. 

77. As to the rest, since Converse Brothers 
are properly included in the rank of religious, 
and, as long as they live in the Congregation 
under obedience, enjoy to the fullest all the 
graces, indulgences, and immunities, the same 
as the monks, we declare that they are reckoned 
among the number of our brethren, and that 
they are sharers in all the temporal and spiri¬ 
tual goods which are acquired in our Congre¬ 
gation, or will be acquired in the future. 

Declaration IV. “Nor to wrest his neck 
from under the yoke of the Rule.” 

78. One Monastery is to help another, and 
when necessity or utility demands it, one or the 
other religious is to be sent out, or on the con¬ 
trary, to be received; yet so, that when the 
occasion ceases, the one who was transferred, 
retains the right to return to his monastery, 
as also his title and his active and passive vote. 
When, therefore, the cause of the transfer ceases, 
he may always return to the place of his profes¬ 
sion, unless for an altogether exceptional reason 
and recognized by the General Chapter, he 
was expressly transferred for life from the 
place of his profession to another monastery. 


— 49 — 


For a just reason, however, a transfer for 
life from one monastery to another can also be 
made, if such a monk has lived a whole year 
in that monastery to which he is to be trans¬ 
ferred and the consent is had of the religious, 
of the respective Prelates, and of the Chapter 
of the monastery to which the transfer is 
made. In this case let a decree be issued, 
to be signed and sealed by the President and 
by those Prelates whom it concerns, copies 
of which are to be preserved in the archives 
of the Congregation, and in those of the respect¬ 
ive monasteries. 


CHAPTER LIX. 

Of Children of the Noble and of the Poor who 
are offered. 

April 13. Aug. 13. Dec. 13. 

Declaration, “Of tender age.” 

79 . By the law of the Church no one can 
be admitted to his religious profession unless 
he has completed his sixteenth year, and has 
finished the year of probation. 

Besides, all those particulars must be observed 
which are, prescribed in the Encyclical letter 
of the Holy Father, which begins “Neminem 



— 50- 


latet,” of March 19., 1857, and in the Apostolic 
Breve, “Ad universalis Ecclesiae regimen” of 
February 7., 1862. 


CHAPTER LX. 

Of Priests who may wish to live in 
the Monastery. 

April 14. Aug. 14. Dec. 14. 

Declaration. “If a priest asketh to be re¬ 
ceived.” 


8 o. We observe the order of profession 
with the priests and clerics who enter our 
Congregation. Nevertheless, we place priests 
and others in Holy Orders ahead of other Novices. 
We do not intend, however, that this should 
work to the prejudice of any one as to the time 
of profession. 




— 51 — 


CHAPTER EXI. 

Of Stranger Monks, how they ought to be received. 

April 15. Aug. 15. Dec 15. 

Declaration. “Let his wish not be denied.” 

8 i. A religious from another monastery 
of our Order, who is about to pass over to our 
Congregation, is to be tried for a whole year 
in the Novitiate; then, when he has obtained 
the dismissal from his Abbot, let him be sub¬ 
mitted to a secret ballot, and if the majority of 
the votes is in his favor, let him be received into 
the Congregation. Furthermore, we give 
warning that admission be not easily granted 
to him who had already received the sacred 
habit in another Order, and that no religious, 
coming from any other Order or institute of 
regulars whatever, be received into our Congre¬ 
gation. 



— 52 — 


CHAPTER EXIT 

Of the Priests of the Monastery. 

April 17. Aug. 17. Dec. 17. 

Declaration. “Let him advance ever more 
and more in godliness.” 

82 . Priests should make every effort to 
preserve innocence of life and purity of body 
and soul, so that they may be worthy to offer 
the holy sacrifice of the Mass daily. 


CHAPTER LXIII. 

Of the Order in the Monastery. 

April 18. Aug. 18. Dec. 18. 

Declaration I. “In the order which he 
hath instituted.” . 

83 . Let the Rt. Rev. President hold the 
first place in the Congregation. Let the local 
Prelate come next; the Arch-Abbot of St. 
Vincent, third; then the other governing Abbots, 
and after these other abbots; after these the other 
Superiors of houses, namely. Priors. In each 
monastery, first after the Abbot comes the 
Prior; after that the Subprior; then the Master 



-53 — 


of Novices. Outside of public functions we 
consider it the part of politeness to give the 
preference to guests. 

April 19. Aug. 19. Dec. 19. 

Declaration II. “Let the younger ask the 
blessing.” 

84 . We understand this blessing to be asked 
by sign rather than word. Therefore let it 
be asked by a bow of the head. 


CHAPTER LXIV. 

Of the Election of the Abbot. 

April 20. Aug. 20 . Dec. 20. 

Declaration I. “In the election of an Abbot.” 

85 . In each Monastery of our Congregation 
the Abbot is elected for life by the professed 
members of the respective monastery, accord¬ 
ing to the first of the three methods laid down 
in the chapter “Quia propter” de electione. 
In the election of the Abbot itself those monks 
have a vote who have been promoted to the 
higher Orders. 

The Capitulars who are lawfully absent can 
choose a Procurator with a general commission, 
but to no Procurator as such is more than 



— 54 — 


one vote granted. Let the Capitulars who are 
lawfully absent send to the Procurator or to 
the Prior or to the President of the election 
seven, ten, or more names, from which let a 
Procurator be selected in the order of enumera¬ 
tion, for each absent Capitular. If, however, 
two or more appoint the same Procurator, let 
account be taken of the priority of the monas¬ 
tic profession. Among the causes which con¬ 
stitute lawful absence, let there be reckoned a 
distance of about eight hundred miles, serious 
illness, necessary parochial duties, unless anoth¬ 
er priest can be substituted. As to other 
causes for lawful absence, let the President con¬ 
sult the Chapter and decide in the preliminary 
discussion. 

From the Priories and the Missions, the Priors, 
and the Seniors should attend, unless they are 
prevented by infirmity or other grave personal 
exigency. For the preliminary discussion which 
is to be held by the Capitulars assembled in 
Chapter, all the electors must be summoned; 
and that the names of those who are thought 
to be fit to assume the office of Abbot may 
become known the sooner, two candidates can 
be named by each elector in secret vote written 
on slips of paper, that in the discussion their 
merits and demerits may be investigated. 
Those who have been named in such a discus- 


— 55 — 


sion do not acquire any legal prerogative. ( S. C. 
de Prop. Fide 18. Febr. 1902). No one, how¬ 
ever, can be elected, unless he has made solemn 
vows, is ordained to the priesthood, and be¬ 
longs to our Congregation. 

86 . In order that the election of the Abbot 
may be valid, two thirds of the votes are re¬ 
quired; however, if on the first ballot no one 
receives the required number of votes, let 
a second and a third ballot be taken. If it 
should happen that on the third ballot the 
necessary number of votes is still wanting, let 
three more ballots be taken; but in these let 
an absolute plurality of votes suffice for election. 
If, when the sixth ballot has been taken, the 
election is not effected by an absolute majority 
of the votes, the election falls to the Rt. Rev. 
President of the Congregation, or, in case he 
is prevented, to him, to whom the authority 
of the Rt. Rev. President is imparted in the 
Constitution No. 125. 

87 . The election must, however, be under¬ 
taken within a month after the death of the 
previous incumbent. The confirmation of the 
Abbot-Elect must be sought from the Holy 
Apostolic See. When the foregoing confirma¬ 
tion has been obtained, the Abbot thus confirmed 
attains to the full administration of his monas¬ 
tery, yet so, that in certain cases, specified in 


— 56 — 


the Declaration to Chapter III. of the Holy 
Rule, he must ask and obtain the consent of 
his community, that is, of the majority of those 
who can readily come to the Chapter. 

Declaration II. “To the knowledge of the 
Bishop.” 


88 . By Apostolic Indult our whole Congre¬ 
gation and each monastery is exempt from 
the jurisdiction of Bishops, and is immediate¬ 
ly subject to the Holy See. As to the cases, 
however, for which recourse must be had to 
the Bishop, these the Canons explain. Abbots 
called to a Provincial Synod must attend in 
person, but as to the diocesan Synod let them 
send the priest who takes the place of the Abbot 
in the parish connected with the Abbey. 

Declarg^tion III. “Or of the Abbots.” 

89 . Our Holy Patriarch here does not 
hesitate to call in the authority of the Church, 
which has the duty to watch over the religious 
communities, as over the rest of the faithful. 
To this end the Roman Pontiffs centuries ago 
strongly urged monasteries to unite into congre¬ 
gations, the Prelates of which could, by means 
of General Chapters and Visitations introduced 
by Apostolic sanction, diligently heal their own 


— 57 — 


wounds and those of their monks, and vigo¬ 
rously promote the religious life. The Congre¬ 
gation will be spoken of in the Constitutions 
below. 


CHAPTER LXV. 

Of the Prior of the Monastery. 

April 23. Aug. 23. Dec 23. 

Declaration. “Let the Abbot himself ap¬ 
point a Prior.” 

90 . After the Abbot has heard the advice 
of his capitulars in private, let him choose 
and appoint a Prior, an exemplary man, who 
should supply the place of the Abbot in the 
community, and always be with the brethren; 
let him watch especially over the regular dis¬ 
cipline; and in those matters which pertain 
to divine worship, piety, and spiritual progress, 
let him both take the lead by example, and 
teach and direct others by word and warning, 
or punishment. In the case of the Abbot’s 
death, and until anew Abbot comes in possession, 
the jurisdiction passes over to him in the or¬ 
dinary way; but if he should be wanting for 
any cause whatever, an Administrator must be 
elected by the Chapter. When the Abbot is 



-58 — 


absent or dead, let the Prior govern the monas¬ 
tery with prudence and moderation, and not 
dare to change what the Abbot has appointed. 
When the Prior is hindered or absent the Sub¬ 
prior takes his place. 


CHAPTER EXVI. 

Of the Porter of the Monastery. 

Apr. 24. Aug. 24. Dec. 24. 

Declaration I. “Let there be placed an 
elderly person.” 

91 . Not so much in reference to years, as 
to behaviour. 

Declaration 11. “In the fervor of charity.” 

92 . Let the porter treat a guest or a way¬ 
farer with every kindness and attention. If 
a stranger wishes to speak with one of the 
brethren, let the porter go to the Superior, 
and not first inform the religious. Let no one, 
therefore, speak with outsiders in the parlor 
or elsewhere, except with the permission of 
the Superior. When the permission has been 
given, let the religious conduct himself with all 
kindness and courtesy, edify the visitor by 



— 59 — 


charity, a holy reserve and modesty, and care¬ 
fully avoid whatever may injure the spirit of 
obedience and simplicity and fill the mind 
with distractions. No one of the brethren, 
however, is allowed, exeept for a grave reason 
to speak with a stranger during the time of the 
Divine Office and community exercises. Final¬ 
ly, let extreme caution be scrupulously tak¬ 
en in speaking with a woman, which must 
never be done except in a place open to every¬ 
body. 

Declaration III. “We desire that this rule 
be read quite often in the community.” 

93 . Besides the three complete readings 
of the Holy Rule, which take place in the 
Novitiate, let the brethren listen with great 
attention to the chapter which is read daily 
in the vernacular at the public table, so that 
they may penetrate thoroughly into the letter 
and the spirit of the Holy Rule. Moreover, 
our Declarations should be read under the 
proper chapter. 



-GO- 


CHAPTER EXVII. 

Of the Brethren who are sent on a Journey. 

April 25. Aug. 25. Dec. 25. 

Declaration I. “Eet the brethren commend 
themselves to the prayer of the Abbot.” 

94 . Let the conventuals who wish to take 
a walk outside of the enclosure say a prayer 
and ask the blessing of the Abbot or the Prior 
before going and on returning. Moreover, 
let no one go out of the monastery without a 
companion, unless the Superior for a just 
reason should think otherwise; and let no general 
permission to go out be given to any one. 
Eet those, however, who must go far, and pass 
the night outside of their cells and the enclosure, 
not only ask the blessing of the Abbot or the 
Prior, but let them also on their return, when 
they again begin to attend the choir, kneel 
out in the middle of the choir during the anti¬ 
phon at the end of the Divine Office. 

Declaration II. “To go anywhere.” 

95 . No monk, wherever he may be stationed, 
can undertake a journey, unless he has per¬ 
mission, either general or special; when however 


— Gi¬ 


be has obtained the permission, let him go 
straightway to the appointed place. 


CHAPTER EXVIII. 

If a Brother is commanded to do impossible 
things. 

April 26. Aug. 26. Dec. 26. 

Declaration. 

96 . This rule has special bearing on duties, 
offices, sermons, and other business, which 
Superiors have to enjoin, and which, under the 
pretext of inability, incapacity, infirmity, or 
other thinly spun reasons, some refuse as 
impossible, stubbornly maintaining that they 
can not do, what they do not want to do. 
Since such a course is foreign to the reli¬ 
gious state and obedience, these recusants can 
be no farther deferred or yielded to than 
that they state with moderation the reasons 
and difficulties which perhaps they feel, and 
faithfully lay them open to their Superior; 
let them leave it to his judgment and discretion, 
whether and how far it seems the consideration 
of them should be given way to. However, 
if, after he knows the reason, he still persists 
in his opinion, and does not consider what he 



—62 — 


enjoins as impossible, though perhaps hard, let 
the religious subjects bear in mind, that they 
are not their own masters, but are obliged 
to obey even under difficulty; hence, that the 
judgment of the Superior must be preferred 
to their opinion and self-will. 


CHATER LXIX. No Declaration. 


CHAPTER EXX. 

That no one presume to strike another. 

April 28. Aug. 28. Dec. 28. 

Declaration. “To strike.” 

97 . But neither to upbraid, either a profes¬ 
sed or a novice or a Converse Brother, nor call 
him by any other than his proper name, or 
to name him otherwise unbecomingly or deri¬ 
sively. If any one acts to the contrary, let 
him confess his guilt in the Chapter of Faults, 
and undergo a penance in proportion to the 
gravity of the offence. 

98 . But let a brother admonish his offen¬ 
ding fellow brother with charity, humility, 
and with gentle words. 




— 63 — 


99 . But he who maliciously strikes another, 
aside of the fact that he is excommunicated 
by the Canons, then and there, let him be placed 
also under a penance at the discretion of the 
Superior, to be determined from the nature 
and the circumstances of the case. 

100 . Further, as often as a misunderstanding 
arises between brethren, be they subjects or 
Superiors, let every means be employed re¬ 
spectively by the Superiors or the Rt. Rev. 
President, that they be reconciled at once. If, 
however, they refuse, and having been warned 
will not come to their senses, let them be 
punished by the aforesaid respective Superiors 
with condign punishment. 


CHAPTER LXXI. and EXXII. 
No Declaration. 




-64 — 


CHAPTER LXXIII. 

Of this that not the whole Observance of 
Righteousness is laid down in this Rule. 

May 1. Aug. 31. Dec. 31. 

Declaration. 

loi. Our Holy Father Saint Benedict, in 
writing his Rule, and we explaining it in proper 
and opportune places, had this one thing in 
view, that during their earthly pilgrimage 
the monks apply themselves to the correction 
of their morals, and strive after that holiness 
of life and purity and innocence of soul, in 
virtue of which they may, after the miseries 
of the present exile, return to their Creator 
joyfully, and as far as may be at once, without 
having to undergo the penalties of Purgatory. 
But since, on account of human frailty, we 
hardly ever attain to what we strive after, 
( for we all fail in many things, and the just 
man even falls seven times), therefore we think 
it right and just that we give the proper reli¬ 
gious care which we show the living, to advance 
them in virtue, also to the dead, to make satis¬ 
faction for them;so that,if they have contract¬ 
ed ‘any stains by departing from our admoni¬ 
tions and those of our Holy Father Benedict 
they may be cleansed by devout fraternal 


— 65 — 


sufifrages, and thus be more quickly transported 
to the beatific vision of God. 

102 . Therefore, when any one of the monks 
or the Converses has run his mortal course, 
and given up his soul to the Creator, we decree 
that on the day of the burial, the whole office 
be said in his own Monastery, according to 
the Rubrics of the Roman Church. Let a 
solemn Mass be celebrated also if it can be 
done and time allows, otherwise on the first 
day not impeded. On the third, the seventh, 
and the thirtieth day, and on the first anni¬ 
versary of the burial, let a Mass be sung with 
the Responsory “Libera me Domine,” with its 
verses and prayers, as is the custom. 

103 . Besides, let the Prelate without delay 
send a sufficient number of death notices to 
the other prelates, and let these see that the 
notices are sent to all their subjects, as was 
customary up to the present time. 

104 . Let each priest of our Congregation 
offer six Masses for a deceased Abbot, even if 
he has resigned, and a deceased Conventual 
Prior; three masses for each deceased priest 
of his own monastery; and one mass for the 
priests of the congregation, for each monk 
who was not a priest,for each Converse Brother, 
and for novices who made their profession on 


— 66 — 


their death bed. Moreover, let a Mass of 
Requiem be celebrated for a deceased Abbot 
in his own monastery every year until his 
successor dies. 

105 . But let the Clerics, the novices, and 
the Converses, offer up one holy Communion; 
and besides, the former will recite the office 
of the dead three times for priests, and once 
for those who were not priests; but the latter 
will privately say three Rosaries for each de¬ 
ceased member of the Congregation, while 
in public, in addition to the common prayers 
they will add every night for thirty days one 
“Our Father” and ten “Hail Marys.” 

106 . Since we desire to practice charity 
also towards the brethren of our Congregation, 
we admit all parents, brothers, and sisters, 
of our monks and Converse Brothers to share 
in all the good works which are performed in 
our Congregation and will be performed in the 
future. 

107 . Let also the custom now existing in 
our monasteries be preserved, namely, of re¬ 
citing in choir each year, within the Octave 
of All Saints on a day not impeded, the whole 
Office of the Dead, and of singing a Mass for the 
deceased brethren of each monastery. More¬ 
over, all priests are allowed to offer the Re- 


— 67 — 


quiem Mass on all Souls day of our Order, 
14. November, for our deceased brethren. 

io8. To remove all doubt we declare, that 
all right of suffrage for the dead is lost by him, 
who has withdrawn from the obedience of 
Superiors, and also by him, who. has been 
secularized by the Holy See. 



-68 — 


II. 

The Constitutions 
of the American-Cassinese Congre¬ 
gation of the Order of St. Benedict. 

PROLOGUE. 

109 . That first kind of monks, which our 
Holy Father intended to form or found, that 
is, the Cenobhic or monastic, differs [specifical¬ 
ly from the other kinds spoken of in this, that 
they live permanently in certain monasteries 
under the obedience of an Abbot, without the 
liberty to roam about or change their domicile. 
The union of such monasteries into a Congrega¬ 
tion, therefore, does not interfere with the 
vow of stability in a certain monastery, nor does 
it deprive the monasteries themselves of their in¬ 
dependence; but a Congregation is so formed 
and regulated that, with a view to the proper 
observance of the Rule of our Holy Father St. 


-69— 


Benedict, the discipline of the Rule may be 
observed more perfectly and, as far as possible, 
uniformly, in all the monasteries of this Con¬ 
gregation,—an end best secured by means of 
General Chapters and visitations of the several 
monasteries. 

no. Therefore the American-Cassinese Con¬ 
gregation, erected by the favor of Pope Pius IX., 
of happy memory, under the title of the Holy 
Guardian Angels, and affiliated with the com¬ 
munication of privileges to the Cassinese 
Congregation, has cheerfully adopted the Rule 
of our Holy Father St. Benedict, and aims to 
carry it out in deed, that in all things God 
may he glorified. 

The management of the Congregation be¬ 
longs to the General Chapter, the President, 
and the Visitors. 


CHAPTER I. 

Of the General Chapter. 

III. The General Chapter will assemble 
every three years in some monastery to be 
selected by the Chapter itself, or by the Pre¬ 
sident and his Council. All the Abbots who 
have jurisdiction and all conventual Priors 



— 70 — 


will attend the General Chapter, and for sever¬ 
al consecutive days treat very carefully of the 
observance of the Rule, and of other matters 
pertaining to the government of the Congre¬ 
gation. The decrees which are passed in the 
General Chapters shall not have the force of 
law unless they are confirmed in the next 
Chapter. But the time between both Chap¬ 
ters shall be for practice. If the decrees, how¬ 
ever, are contrary to these Statutes, they must 
be submitted to the approval of the Holy See. 

Those who are lawfully prevented from being 
present in person, will appoint a religious who 
is a conventual of their monastery as a pro¬ 
curator. They will inform him of their valid 
impediment and give him his credentials. 
The procurator will then be present at all 
consultations, sit in the last place with the 
Abbots, and give his vote. 

112 . Every monastery or religious com¬ 
munity of our Congregation will elect by a 
majority vote a priest of the community and 
send him as a Delegate to the General Chapter. 
They will furnish him with special credentials, 
and entrust to him their grievances and other 
matters which are to be submitted in their name. 
The Delegate will also express his views in 
matters that come up for discussion, will rank 


— 71 — 


after the Abbots or their procurators in the 
order of profession, and have a vote like the 
rest. Let also another monk be chosen who 
shall be a substitute for the Delegate and shall 
be sent in his stead, if the Delegate himself 
should happen to die before the General 
Chapter is held, or should in any other way be 
prevented from attending the General Chapter. 
We declare however that no pre-eminence is 
acquired, on account of the election afore¬ 
said, by those who are chosen, and that the 
delegation itself expires straightway after the 
General Chapter adjourns. 

113. The Secretary is appointed by the 
President. In the beginning of the Chapter 
four Definitors shall be elected by secret bal¬ 
lot in writing, namely, two from among the 
Abbots and Cbnventual Priors, and two from the 
number of Delegates. But at the end of the 
Chapter there shall be elected from the number 
of Abbots by secret written ballots the Presi¬ 
dent and the two Visitors. In the election of 
the President, only the Abbots and the Con¬ 
ventual Priors have a vote, but in the election 
of Visitors and Definitors also the Delegates 
have a vote. 

114. The Rt. Rev. President and the Visi¬ 
tors will preside at the Chapter, propose the 
points that ought to be discussed, call for the 


— 72 — 


views and the’^votes of the others, and accor¬ 
ding to what is decided and approved by the 
majority (that is by more than one half of all 
the votes cast), prepare the minutes or capitular 
statutes. Whatever has thus beep decreed 
rightly and in due order, concerning the ob¬ 
servance of the Rule, shall be observed in¬ 
violably by all, without excuse,, contradiction, 
or appeal. 

115. The Rt. Rev. President, the Visitors, 
and the Definers, who are elected, will appoint 
three auditors, namely two Abbots and one 
conventual Delegate, who shall examine the 
financial condition of the monasteries. They 
will inspect the statements of the receipts 
and the expenses,of the assets and the liabilities 
taken from the account books of each monas¬ 
tery for the three preceding years, which the 
Delegates are bound to turn over to them; and if 
the Auditors perceive any excess in the adminis¬ 
tration of the temporalities, they will report it 
to the Definers, who shall make such provision 
for the welfare of the monasteries in regard to 
them as they see fit. The authority of the 
Definers lasts only as long as the General 
Chapter is in session. They will arrange the 
matter to be proposed in the General Chapter, 
and nothing shall be discussed unless it has 
first been proposed by them. An exception 


- 73 - 


may be made if the majority of the Chapter 
desires to discuss a new proposition at once. 

116. The Rt. Rev. President and the others 
who are present at the General Chapter will bind 
themselves under oath to maintain perpetual 
silence. The minutes of the General Chapter, 
and of the Visitors also, shall be burned, if in the 
opinion of the Chapter it is no longer necessary 
to preserve them; but those which must be 
preserved should be guarded so carefully that 
they by no means fall into the hands of those 
whom a visitation or an accusation can affect. 

117. The General Chapter shall also have 
the power to interpret or explain the Rule and 
its Declarations, and to make laws for the whole 
Congregation, provided they do not run counter 
to these which have been approved by the 
Holy See. 

118. The decrees of the General Chapter 
shall be read publicly five times a year, namely, 
during the Ember weeks and the Retreat. 



— 74 — 


CHAPTER II. 

Of the President. 

119. It is the duty of the Rt. Rev. Presi¬ 
dent to convoke the General Chapter and to 
preside. To him also are referred all questions 
which the several Abbots cannot suitably settle 
themselves, and which cannot be post¬ 
poned till the time of the General Chapter. In 
these cases the Rt. Rev. President will care¬ 
fully weigh the matter and give a decision 
then and there himself; or in doubtful and more 
serious cases he will also request the advice of 
neighboring Abbots,- and decide the matter 
with the advice of the Visitors. Although such 
decisions or rulings of the Rt. Rev. President 
have not the force of a permanent Statute, before 
they are confirmed bv the General Chapter, still 
they will be observed without opposition or con¬ 
tradiction until the case is proposed in the 
next Chapter. 

120. The Rt. Rev. President will also have 
in his possession and charge the special seal 
of the Congregation, which he uses in for¬ 
warding and communicating the Decrees of 
the Chapter, the minutes or reports of the Visi¬ 
tation, and, in fact, any other documents that 
must be dispatched, not in his own name, but 
in that of the Congregation, or at least in the 


-75 — 


name of the President and the Visitors. The 
Rt. Rev. President will also take care of all 
documents, reports, and other writings, which 
it will be necessary to keep for future occasions, 
and hand them over to his successor after the 
six years are over. 

121. The President will keep all documents 
of the Congregation to be given to his succes¬ 
sor when his office ceases. But an archive 
shall be established in the Archabbey of St. 
Vincent’s, in which the documents that the 
President does not need, are preserved by the 
keeper of the archives. 

122. Moreover, it will be necessary to found 
a treasury, to which each monastery shall 
annually contribute an amount proportionate 
to the number of priests. The purpose of this 
is, in the first place, to defray from this common 
fund the necessary expenses of the Visitors, 
incurred in going from one monastery to anoth¬ 
er, without additional burden to the monas¬ 
teries; and then, also, to meet other expenses 
incidental to the Congregation. This common 
treasury shall be under the care of the Rt. Rev. 
President, who will at stated times of the year 
receive the portions or assessments of each mon¬ 
astery. When his office has expired he will 
give an account in the General Chapter of all the 


— 76 — 


receipts and expenses together with the balance 
of the money, which is to be counted and turned 
over to the new President for safekeeping and 
disbursement as laid down above. 

123. The Rt. Rev. President will see to 
it that some one is specially appointed to record 
the more notable events of the year which con¬ 
cern the congregation; as, affiliations of new 
monasteries to the Congregation, inaugurations 
of superiors, removals and depositions, if any 
take place, and other enterprises of greater 
importance which were undertaken or carried 
out during the year.. In another book he will 
enter the names of patrons, benefactors, and 
friends of the Congregation, as also extraordina¬ 
ry favors received from the same, in order that 
he may be able to inform his successors and 
others of them. These two books he will 
bring to the General Chapter to be shown to 
the Fathers. 

124. The President of the Congregation 
is elected for six years; when this time is over 
he may be re-elected in the same manner as 
at the first time, and may be re-elected again 
and again. 

125. If the Rt. Rev. President is canonical¬ 
ly prevented, the first Visitor, or in case of 
his prevention, the second Visitor, and so on, 


77 - 


one after the other, the older of the Abbots 
who is not prevented, will hold the right and 
office of President, in the same way as if 
he had been elected, until the next General 
Chapter. If one or also both Visitors should 
die, the President must substitute others. 


CHAPTER III. 

Of the Visitations. 

126. In order that the visitations of the 
monasteries may be made with authority and 
profit—a measure upon which the preservation 
of the regular discipline and the execution of 
the decrees of the General Chapter chiefly 
depend,—The Rt. Rev. President will regu¬ 
larly be the first Visitor of all the monasteries, 
and one of the Visitors will always take part 
with him in the Visitations. The regular 
visitations will take place every three years, 
and every Father, wherever he may be, must 
be notified, at least three weeks before the 
coming of the Visitors, so that all may have an 
occasion to go to the Visitors. 

127. Aside of these triennial visitations, 
one or the other monastery may also, for some 
particular reason, be visited specially. In 
this case however, as in a matter of greater im- 



— 78 — 


portance, the Rt. Rev. President will avail 
himself of the advice of the two Visitors, or 
also of other neighboring Abbots; and he ought 
not to proceed to such a visitation unless he is 
well informed, and a real necessity demands it. 
If the Rt. Rev. President cannot visit all the 
monasteries, let him arrange with the Visitors 
which monasteries he ought to visit and which 
the Visitors alone. The monastery of the Rt. 
Rev. President will be visited by the two as¬ 
sistant Visitors. In the event that, owing to 
sickness or other unavoidable and protracted 
impediment, either the Rt. Rev. President or the 
two other Visitors cannot perform the duty of 
visitation, others are to be substituted by the 
Rt. Rev. President and the Visitors, in order that 
a matter so wholesome,—the visitation of the 
several monasteries, may not be omitted. 

128. If the Rt. Rev. President with one 
Visitor cannot be present at the visitation, 
and the two Visitors who were appointed cannot 
themselves be present, then the Rt. Rev. 
President, with the advice of the Visitors, will 
give an assistant to one of the Visitors. This 
assistant should be a man of good attainments, 
so that in the regulations which may have 
to be made, he may be of service to the Visi¬ 
tor. He shall be bound to secrecy in all mat- 


— vo¬ 


ters pertaining to his office in the same way 
as the Visitors. 

129. The chief duty and obligation of the 
Visitors, according to the Sacred Canons, are 
the following: 

FIRST, that they inquire carefully into the 
condition of the religious and the regular ob¬ 
servance, and that they correct and reform 
what, according to the rule of St. Benedict and 
of the Statutes of our Congregation, seems to 
need correction; 

SECONDLY, that they make the local Abbot 
correct his delinquent monks and enjoin on 
them wholesome penances, or also punishments, 
in proportion to the guilt; 

THIRDLY, that the Visitors themselves im¬ 
pose the regular censures and suitable punish¬ 
ments on stubborn and rebellious monks, in 
accordance with the gravity of the offence; 

FOURTHLY, that, if they find an Abbot neg¬ 
ligent in correcting his monks according to the 
command of the Visitors, he is to be admonished 
and reprimanded in the next General Chapter; 

FIFTHLY, if the Visitors find an Abbot, who 
is too negligent, who undermines the regular 
observance by relaxing the discipline, or who 
for any other reason deserves to be removed 


-80 - 


from office, the General Chapter shall act 
according to the prescriptions of the Sacred 
Canons; or, if the case is pressing, the Rt. Rev. 
President will refer the matter to the Holy See. 

130. If for a weighty reason any one thinks 
himself unjustly oppressed, he will have re¬ 
course to the Visitors at the time of the Visi¬ 
tation, from the Visitors to the President, and 
from him to the General Chapter; from the 
General Chapter, however, his recourse is to 
the Holy See, to which, as also to the Presi¬ 
dent, he shall be free to appeal at any and all 
times. To the Primate, however, free re¬ 
course may be had in cases mentioned in a 
Decree of the S. C. of Bishops and Regulars 
of 16 th September, 1893 . It must be observed, 
however, that in such appeals the complaint 
must be made by letter, and that no one may 
presume to go in person, unless he is called. 
When one has appealed to the Holy See, all 
proceedings are suspended, and if from any com¬ 
bination of causes or circumstances the appellant 
does not seem able meanwhile to live at peace 
in his monastery, the Rt. Rev. President will 
transfer him for a suitable time to another 
monastery. In case, however, that anyone, be 
he the Abbot or a simple religious, presumes to 
appeal to any other tribunal of whatever rank 
or order, ecclesiastical or civil, except as pro- 


— 81 — 


vided for by the Canons, he shall be punished 
by his regular superiors. 


U. 1. O. G. D. 


— 82 — 


Appendix. 

To Declarations 26 and 74. 

DECRETUM. 

Auctis admodum ex singular! Dei beneficio 
votorum simplicium Institutis, uti multa inde 
bona oriuntur, ita aliqua parit incommoda 
facilis alumnorum hujusmodi societatum egres- 
sus et consequens, ex jure constituto, regres- 
sus in dioecesim origin is. Hgec autem graviora 
efficit temporalium bonorum inopia, qua nunc 
Ecclesia premitur, unde Episcopi saepe providere 
nequeunt ut illi vitam honeste traducant. 
Haec, aliaque id genus, etiam de alumnis Or- 
dinum votorum solemnium, perpendentes non- 
nulli Sacri locorum Antistites, pro Ecclesi¬ 
astic! ordinis decore et fidelium aedificatione, 
ab Apostolica Sede enixis precibus postularunt, 
re medium aliquod adhiberi. Cum ergo totum 
negotium SSmus D. N. Leo PP. XIII. detulis- 
set Sacrae huic Congregation! Episcoporum et 


- 83 - 


Regularium Negotiis et Consultationibus prse- 
positae , Emmi. Patres in Conventu Plenario 
habitp in Vaticanis aedibus die 29 mensis 
Augusti anni 1892 , praevio mature examine ac 
discussione, perpensaque universa rei ratione, 
opportunas edere censuerunt dispositiones 
per generale decretum ubique locorum per- 
petuis futuris temporibus servandas. Quas 
cum SS. D. N. in audientia d. 23 . Sept, hujus 
anni 1892 infrascripto Secretario benigne im- 
pertita probare et confirmare dignatus fue- 
rit, ea quae sequuntur per praesens decretum 
apostolica auctoritate statuuntur et decer- 
nuntur. 

I. Firmis remanentibus Constitutione S. 
Pii V. diei 14 . Oct. anni 1568 , incipient. Roma- 
nus Pontijex, et declaratione sa. me. Pii 
PP. IX. edita die 12 . mensis lunii anni 1858 , 
quibus Superioribus Ordinum Regularium prohi- 
betur, ne litteras dimissoriales con cedant Novi- 
tiis aut Professis votorum simplicium trien- 
nalium ad hoc ut titulo Paupertatis ad SS. 
Ordines promoveri valeant, eaedem dispositi¬ 
ones extenduntur etiam ad Instituta votorum 
simplicium, ita ut horum Institutorum Super- 
iores non possint in posterum litteras dimis¬ 
soriales concedere pro SS. Ordinibus, vel quo- 
modocumque ad sacros Ordines alumnos pro¬ 
mo vere titulo Mensae communis, vel Missionis, 


— 84 — 


nisi illis tantum alumnis, qui vota quidem sim- 
plicia, sed perpetua jam emiserint, et proprio 
Institute stabiliter aggregati fuerint; vel qui 
saltern per triennium permanserint in votis 
simplicibus temporaneis quoad ea Instituta 
quae ultra triennium perpetuam differunt 
professionem. Revocatis ad hunc effectum om¬ 
nibus indultis ac privilegiis jam obtentis a S. 
Sede, necnon dispositionibus contrariis in re- 
spec tivis Constitutionibus contentis, etsi tales 
Constitutiones fuerint a S. Sede Apostolica 
approbatae. 

II. Hinc notum sit oportet de generali regula 
baud in posterum dispensatum iri, ut ad Majores 
Ordines alumnus Congregationis votorum solem- 
nium promoveatur, quin prius solemnem profes¬ 
sionem emiserit, vel per integrum triennium 
in votis simplicibus perseveraverit, si alumnus 
Institute votorum simplicium sit addict us.— 
Quod si interdum causa legitima occurat, cur 
quispiam Sacros Ordines suscipiat, triennio 
nondum expleto, peti poterit ab Apostolica 
Sede dispensatio, ut clericus vota solemnia 
nuncupare possit, quamvis non expleverit 
triennium; quoad Instituta vero votorum sim¬ 
plicium, ut vota simplicia perpetua emittere 
possit, quamvis non expleto tempore a res- 
pectivi Instituti Constitutionibus praescripto 


— 85 — 


pro professione votorum simplicium perpe- 
tuorum. 

III. Dispositiones contentae in decreto S. C. 
Concilii jussu sa. me. Urban! VIII. edito die 
21. Septembris 1624 incipien. Sacra Congrega- 
tio, ac in decreto ejusdem S. C. jussu sa. me. 
Innocentii XII edito die 24 mensis lulii anni 
1694 , incipien. Instantibus, ac in aliis decretis 
generalibus, quibus methodus ordinatur a 
Superioribus Ordinum Regularium servanda 
in expellendis propriis alumnis, nedum. in 
suo robore manent, sed servandae imponuntur 
etiam Superioribus Institutorum votorum sim¬ 
plicium, quoties agatur de aliquo alumno vota 
simplicia quidem sed perpetua professo, vel 
votis simplicibus temporaneis adstricto ac in 
sacris insuper Ordinibus constituto dimitten do; 
ita ut horum neminem et ipsi dimittere vale- 
ant, ut nunc dictum est, nisi ob culpam gravem 
externam, et publicam, et nisi culpabilis si 
etiam incorrigibilis. Ut autem quis incorrigibilis 
revera habeatur, Superiores praemittere debent, 
distinctis temporibus, trinam admonitionem 
et correctionem; qua nihil proficiente, Superiores 
debent processum contra delinquentem instruere, 
processus resultantia accusato, contestari,eidem 
tempus congruum concedere, quo suas defen- 
siones sive per se, sive per alium ejusdem 
Instituti religiosum, exhibere valeat; quod si 


- 86 - 


accusatus ipse proprias defensiones non praesen- 
taverit, Superior, seu Tribunal, defensorem, ut 
supra, alumnum respectivi Instituti ex officio 
constituere debebit. Post haec Superior cum 
suo Consilio sententiam expulsionis aut dimis- 
sionis pronunciare poterit, quae tamen nullum 
effectum habebit si condemnatus a sententia 
prolata rite ad S. C. EE. et RR. appellaverit, 
donee per eamdem S. C. definitivum judicium 
prolatum non fuerit.—Quoties autem gravibus 
ex causis procedendi methodus supradicta 
servari nequeat, tunc recursus haberi debeat 
ad hanc S. C. ad effectum obtinendi dispen- 
sationem a solemnitatibus praescriptis, et facul- 
tatem procedendi summario modo juxta praxim 
vigentem apud hanc S. C. 

IV. Alumni votorum solemnium, vel sim- 
plicium perpetuorum, vel temporalium,in Sacris 
Ordinibus constituti, qui expulsi vel dimissi 
fuerint, perpetuo suspensi maneant, donee a 
S. Sede alio modo eis consulatur; ac praeterea 
Episcopum benevolum receptorem invenerint 
et de ecclesiastico patrimonio sibi providerint. 

V. Qui in Sacris Ordinibus constituti et 
votis simplicibus obstricti sive perpetuis, sive 
temporalibus, sponte dimissionem ab Apostolica 
Sede petierint et obtinuerint, vel aliter ex 
Apostolico privilegio a votis simplicibus vel 


— 87 — 


perpetuis vel temporaneis dispensati fuerint, 
ex claustro non exeant, donee Episcopum bene- 
volum receptorem invenerint, et de ecclesiasti- 
co patrimonio sibi providerint, secus suspensi 
maneant ab exercitio susceptorum Ordinum. 
Quod porrigitur quoque ad alumnos votorum 
simplicium temporalium, qui quo vis professionis 
vinculo jam forent soluti, ob elapsum tempus 
quo vota ab ipsis fuerunt nuncupata. 

VI. Professi turn votorum solemnium, turn 
simplicium ab Ordinariis locorum ad Sacros 
Ordines non admittantur, nisi, praeter alia 
a jure statuta, testimoniales litteras exhibeant, 
quod saltern per annum sacrae theologiae operam 
dederint, si agatur de subdiaconatu, ad minus 
per biennium, si de diaconatu, et quoad pres- 
byteratum, saltern per triennium, praemisso 
tamen regular! aliorum studiorum curriculo. 

Haec de expresso Sanctitatis Suae mandato 
praefata Sacra Congregatio constituit atque 
decernit,contrariis quibuscumque,etiam special! 
et individua mentione dignis, minime obstanti- 
bus. 

Datum Romae, ex Sacra Congregatione Epis- 
coporum et Regularium, die 4 .Novembris 1892 . 

I. CARD. VERGA, Praef. 

Jos. M. Arch. Caesarien, Secretarius. 


— 88 — 


To Declaration 79. 

Juxta ea quae Summus Pontifex 
Pius IX. decrevit per litteras Encyclicas, 
''Neminem latet,'' a S. Congregatione super 
Statu Regularium die 19 . Martii 1857 editas, 
Novitii, expleto probationis tempore, vota 
dumtaxat simplicia profitentur. Vota autem 
solemnia juxta Breve ejusdem Pontificis dat. 
die 7 . Februarii 1862 , quod incipit ‘'Ad uni¬ 
versalis Ecclesice/’ valide nuncupari non pos- 
sunt, nisi post triennium a die quo simplicia 
emiserunt. 


To Declaration 130. 

Decretum S. C. Epp. et Regul. de munere, 
iure et officiis Abbatis Primatis. 

decretum 

Inaestimabilis unitatis vinculo. 

Quod vero ad hanc S. Congr. Negotiis et Con- 
sultationibus Episcoporum et Regularium 
praepositam attinet ex mandatis Sanctitatis 
Suae seorsum definiendum ab Ea est enucleate 
peculiares quae sint partes muneris Abbatis 
Primatis, quaeque singularia eius iura et officia 
erga Ordinem universum. lussa faciens Summi 
Pontificis Sacra haec Congregatio, rebus om¬ 
nibus sedulo accurateque perpensis, ea quae 
sequuntur decernenda esse existimavit. Im- 



— 89 — 


primis quod respicit Abbatem Primatem uti 
Abbatem Collegii S. Anselmi in Urbe, cum is 
habeat in eo ordinariam iurisdictionem, ea 
omnia peragere ibi valet quae alii Abbates 
Ordinarii eiusdem Ordinis in eorum monasteriis 
iuxta proprias Constitutiones peragere queunt. 
Dein quod spectat ad singularia eius iura et 
officia erga Ordinem universum, praeter ea 
quae in praedictis Literis Apostolicis sub num. 5 . 
enunciantur circa relationes Collegii cum singu¬ 
lis Congregationibus, ne inanis sit eius Praelatio, 
aequum decemere visum est ut omnes Abbates 
Generales singularum Congregationum Bene- 
dictinarum quolibet quinquennio relationem 
super statu cum morali turn materiali respec- 
tivae Congregationis ad Bum transmittere tene- 
antur; praesertim ut universi Ordinis conditio 
Eum minime lateat. Insuper ubi exoriri con- 
tingant inter Praesides vel alicuius Congregati¬ 
onis Abbates dubia vel dissensiones quae com- 
poni nequeunt in propriis Congregationibus, 
constituere placet ut ad Abbatem Primatem 
confugiant, qui patema caritate nihil intenta- 
tum relinquet ut animi omnium Monachorum in 
pacis vinculo confirmati Deo humiliter et 
laetanter inserviant. Quod si necessitas urgeat, 
visitandi aliquam ex Benedictinis Congregati¬ 
onibus confoederatis, ipse ius habeat earn visi¬ 
tandi, gaudens prae ceteris in actu visitationis 
omnibus praeeminentiis et honoribus; quam visi- 


— 90 — 


tationem sive per se, sive per alium idoneum 
Monachum ab se ad id specialiter deputandum 
obire valeat. Ceterum si agatur de quaesti- 
onibus quse componi pacifice nequeant, quaeque 
dilationem non patiantur, in casibus vere ur- 
gentibus, attenta necessitate, illico Ipse de- 
cernat quod aequius melius in Domino decer- 
nere iudicabit, facta postea relatione ad hanc 
S. Congregationem. Tandem invigilet et cu- 
ret, ut in singulis memoratis Congregationibus 
regularis Disciplina servetur. 

Quod si in posterum aliqua occurat super 
praemissis declaratio, tunc pro re nata ad hanc 
S. Congregationem EE. et RR. recursus erit 
habendus. Hisce itaque Apostolica Auctori- 
tate praestitutis ac suprema sanction e munitis, 
Sacra haec Congregatio spem habet certissimam 
fore ut singulae Congregrationes Benedictinae 
earutnque Religiosi viri cuiuscumquesintgradus, 
dignitatis et praeeminentiae Sacratissimi Prin- 
cipis curis ac solicitudinibus obsequentes, hoc 
Decretum non modo sint animo volenti ex- 
cepturi, sed alacriter et gratanter a nplexaturi: 
quod quidem in perenne singularis benevolen- 
tiae Sanctitatis Suae Eeonis XIII. erga S. Pa- 
triarchae Monachorum Occidentalium Ordinem 
monimentum, eiusdemque inclyti Ordinis orna- 
mentum, Deique laudem et gloriam redundat. 
Apostolicis ac proprii Ordinis Constitutioni- 


-91— 


bus aliisque in contrarium facientibus etiam 
speciali et individua mentione dignis non ob- 
stantibus quibuscumque. 

Ex Aud. SSmi die 3. Septembris 1893 ha¬ 
bit a ab Emmo Cardinali Praefecto. 

SSmus praesens Decretum in omnibus ratum 
habuit et confirmavit. 

Datum Romae ex Secretaria S. Congnis EE. 
et RR. die 16 Septembris 1893. 

I. Card. Verga, Praefectus. 

A. Trombetta, Pro-Secretarius. 



— 92 — 


Index. 

The figures indicate the numbers, except where chapter 
IS cited. 


Abbot 

Abbot, obedience to 109, with 
jurisdiction at gen. chapt. 
Ill; deposition of 129; as 
President 125; grievances 
against 130; respect due to 
130; when absent no chapt¬ 
er called 5; consults with 
Seniors 7; dispute with 10; 
appeal to 10; appeal from 
10; 130; calls commu¬ 

nity 5; presence of, at 
retreat 15; holds occasio¬ 
nal discourse 47; holds 
chapter for Lent 56; punish¬ 
ment inflicted by 18; com¬ 
mand of 28, 32; power to 
add food 41; selects monks 
for St. Anselm 55; re¬ 
ceives list of good works 
57; approves good works 
57; asks consent of gen¬ 
eral chapter to keep parish 
61; gives permission to go 
out 94; hindered by guests 
70; in the order of govern¬ 
ing Abbots 83; appoint- 


Administration 

ment (election) of, chapter 
64; elected 85; attends 
provincial council 88; 
death of 87, 90; elected by 
President 86; administra¬ 
tion of monastery 87; asks 
consent of community 30, 
87; table of, chapter 56; 
jurisdiction of, passes to 
Prior 90; absence of 90; 
asks advice of capitulars 
to appoint Prior 90; se¬ 
lects officials 17; accepts 
their resignation 19; ap¬ 
points Prior 90; blessing for 
walks and journeys 94; 
deceased, Masses for 104; 
Holy Communion for 105; 
prayers for 105. 
absence from recreation, ex¬ 
cuse for 11, from canon¬ 
ical hour 51. 

accusation of faults, 17; if 
one breaks anything 52. 
address of Abbot for Lent 56. 
administration, of Monas- 


- 93 - 


Administrator 

tery 87; of temporalities 
115. 

administrator elected 90. 

admission of Novices 4; 
from another monastery 4, 
from another Order 81. 

admonition, fellow brother, 
with charity 98; 

advice to be sought by the 
President 119, 127; of 

brethren 6; of visitors 
26; of Seniors 7; of capitu¬ 
lars 90; asking physician 
36. 

agreement, about alienation 
3, for lending books 31; 
for wages 72. 

ailment, no cause for dis¬ 
missal 26. 

alone on mission 61. 

animals in cells 13. 

anticipate. Matins and Lauds 
14. 

Antiphon of B. V. M. 51. 

Apostolic See, permission for 
alienation 3; indult 44; 
appeal to 130. 

appeal to tribunal, civil 130; 
ecclesiastical 130; contra¬ 
ry to canons 130; to Visi¬ 
tors, President, Gen. Chapt. 
Primate, Holy See 130; 
conditions of 130; to super¬ 
iors 9; to abbot 10; from 
dependent Prior 59; order 
of 10; from Abbot 10; 
threaten with 10; to Bish¬ 
op 88. 

appellant, transfer to other 
monastery, 130. 

appointment of auditors 115; 


Blessing 

secretary 113; of substi¬ 
tute 112; of Seniors 7; of 
cellarer 27; procurator 27; 
infirmarian 36; of abbot, 
chap. 64; of sacristan 63; 
of Prior 59, 90; 
approval of decrees 111, of 
abbot for Lent works 57. 
arch-abbot of St. Vincent 
holds third place 83. 
archives of congregation 78, 
121; of monasteries 78; 
place of 121. 
artists chapter 57. 
articles, list of 32. 
assessment, of monastery 122. 
assistant, of Visitors 128; 
duties of 128; qualities of 
128; of prcurator 29; of 
sacristan 63. 
associate with guests 66. 
attention, at recitation of 
office 61; of porter 92. 
“Auctis admodum”, see 
Decrees. 

Ballot in Chapter 6, to ad¬ 
mit monk of other house 81; 
in election of Abbot 85; in 
election at Gen. Chapt. 113. 
beginning of Lent 56. 
bahavior, in dormitory 22; 
of novices 73. 

benefactors of Congregation, 
names and record of 123. 
birds in cell 13. 
bishop, recourse to, know¬ 
ledge of 88. 

blessing of Abbot for good 
works 57: asking of by 
bow 84; for walks and 
journeys 94. 


-94 — 


Body 

body, soundeness of 71. 

bodily health, preservation 
37. 

books, taking along, buying, 
for library, necessary for 
sciences 30; lending 31; 
examining 67; brought to 
monastery 67. 

bow of the head 84; of shoul¬ 
ders 49. 

boys entering cells 24. 

brethren, counsel of chap. 3; 
advice of 6; presence of 
during recreation 11; for¬ 
wardness of 12; impertin- 
nent 12; overbearing 12; 
rising 14; behaviour in dor¬ 
mitory 22; permission to 
go to cells 23; give list 
of articles 32; sick, obe¬ 
dience of 36; to assist sick 
36; to leave monastery 37; 
meals of, chap. 41; receiv¬ 
ing of, chap. 58; salute 
crucifix 49; mistakes of 51; 
on journey, chap. 67; n. 65; 
arriving at monastery 65; 
join in community life 
65; misunderstanding 100; 
to reconcile 100. 

brothers, see Converses. 

business, not to prevent ob¬ 
servance of Holy Rule 58. 

Candidates, ch. 58; n. 81; 
see novitiate. 

Canons, appeal contrary to 
130. alienation according 
to 3; prescription for ex¬ 
pulsion 26; excommunicat¬ 
ed by 99. 

canonical, office 15; recitation 


Chapter 

of 61; 

canes with gold and silver 
knobs 33. 

canvass, on novices, simple 
professed and Converses 
73. 

capitulars, advice of to ap¬ 
point Prior 90. 

cause of dismissal 26; of 
scandal 61. 

caution in regard to woman 
92. 

celebration of Mass 61, 82. 
cell of brethren, entering of 
23; entered by boys 24; 
guests taken to 66; animals 
in 13. 

cellarer of monastery, ch. 31; 
n. 17, 27; appointment and 
duties 27, 28, 29; see 

procurator. 

censures, imposed by visi¬ 
tors 129; ecclesiastical 5; 
regular 5; 
chains, gold 33. 
change, of domicile 109; of 
abbot’s appointments 90; 
chant plain, instructed in 54; 
chapter, consent of 3, 
4, 72; members 5; sec¬ 
retary 6; minutes 6; busine 
ness to be transacted 7; 
matters treated 8; every 
year when officials re¬ 
sign 19; majority 86. 
chapter, general 89, 109, 

110; assembling, atten¬ 
ding, duration, monas¬ 
tery selected for, decrees, 
procurator 111; delegate 
112; secretary 113; decrees 
read 118; president 114; 


— 95 — 


Chapter 


Dead 


recourse to 130; convoca¬ 
tion 119; appeal to 130; 
transfers religious 78; con¬ 
sent to keep parish 61. 
chapter of faults 17; 52, 97; 
time of 17; presence of 65; 
held by prior 17. 
charity 70; to edify visitor 
92; in admonishing 98. 
children ch. 59, 

Christian doctrine 47, 76. 
church, laws 2; fasts 42; 
sacred utensils 63; author¬ 
ity 89; rubrics 102. 
circumstances of the place,, 
clothes according to 68. 
clerics, dormitories 21; order 
80; bring list of good works 
57; spiritual director 73. 
clothes, ch. 55; quality, cut 
68 . 

collation, time 46. 
color, black, 68. 
coming late to office 48; 
to table 49. 

command of Abbot 28, 32; 
of superior 28, 29; sub¬ 
mission to 9; unjust 9; 
of dependent prior 59; 
common fund, see treasury, 
communion of the sick 38; 
offered up for deceased 
105. 

community 5; life 65; table 
70; order of ch. 63; exer¬ 
cises 92. 

companion when going out 94, 
confession, time of 53; neglect 
of 53; of sick 38; of guilt 97. 
congregation 1; monasteries 


of 109; regulation of 109; 
american-cassinese 110 ; 
management, government, 
110 ;laws 111 ; seal 120 ; ex¬ 
penses 122 ; notable events 
123 benefactors, friends, 
;patrons 123; leaving 74; 
archives 78; union of mona¬ 
steries 89; good works 106. 
Conventual Mass 16. 
Conventual Prior 83, 103, 
104, 111. 

conversation with seculars, 
gravity and reserve shown 
61. 

converses, institute of 71; 
dormitories 21 ; admonition 
29; bring list of good works 
57; triennial vows 74; dis¬ 
pensed from vows 74; dis¬ 
missal 74; devotions 75; 
instructed 76; properly re¬ 
ligious >77; enjoying all 
graces 77; sharers of goods, 
temporal and spiritual 77; 
masses for deceased 104; 
Holy Communion and 
prayers for 105. 
copies, of decrees of trans¬ 
fer 78. 

corporal punishment 25. 
council, provincial 88 . 
counsel taking of ch.'3. 
craftsmen of monastery 71. 
crucifix, salutation of 49. 
cuculla 69. 

culpa, see chapter of faults. 

dead, office of, for deceased 
brethren of monasteiy 107; 
mass 102,107; care for 101; 
office 102, 105, 107. 


-96 


Deans 

deans of monastery ch. 21, 
n. 17. 

death of abbot 87, 90; notices 
sent 103. 

declarations 2; reading of 39, 
93. 

Decrees—“Auctis admodum” 
26,74; ‘‘Neminem latet” 79; 
“Ad universalis Eccles.” 
79;—S. C. EE. et RR. de 
Primate 130; see Appendix 
for texts. 

decrees of general chapter, 
having force of laws, con¬ 
firmed, contrary to statutes 
111; to be read publicly 
118; approved by Holy See 
111; of chapter 120; of 
transfer, copies of 78. 
delegate to general chapter, 
duties, credentials, sub¬ 
stitute 112. 
depart freely 73. 
dependent houses 14, 59, 60. 
depositry 29. 
derisively, to name 97. 
devotion, at recitation 61; 

of Converse brothers 75. 
difficulties, obey under 96. 
dinner, time of 46. 
diocesan synod 88. 
discipline of the Rule, ob¬ 
servance, uniformity 109; 
regular 7, 90; disturbing 65. 
discourse, when forbidden 11; 

by abbot or Prior 47. 
discretion, of superiors 50; 
Prelates 65. 

discussion on novices 73. 
dismissal, from congrega¬ 
tion, cause, trial, judicature 
form of, not for ailment 


Ecclesiastical 

26; of simple professed 74; 
of Converse brothers 74; 
of stranger monks 81. 
dismissed loses all rights 74. 
dispensation of vows 74. 
dispute impudently with Ab¬ 
bot, Prior, or superior 10. 
divine functions 34; office 
ch. 8, 16, no 11; independ¬ 
ent houses 14; confusion 
of 51; stoppage of 51; 
presence at 65; time of 92; 
doctor, see physician, 
doctrine, Christian 76. 
documents, alienation of, 3; 
of monastery 6; of Con¬ 
gregation 120, 121. 
dogs, 13. 

domicile, change of 109. 
dormitory, of clerics 21; Con¬ 
verse brothers 21; be¬ 
havior in 22. 

dress, secular 71; monastic 
69; 

drink, measure of ch. 40, 45. 
duration, of general chapter, 
111; delegation 112 ;author- 
ity of auditors 115; ’’of¬ 
fice of President 124; of 
meditation 15. 

duties, of President 119 to 
125; Visitors 126 to 130; 
auditors 115; definers 115; 
delegate 112; assistant vis¬ 
itor 128; treasurer 122; 
cellarer 27; procurator 27; 
28; infirmarian 36; prior 
90; porter 92; refusing 96; 

enjoined by superior 96. 
Ecclesiastical, censure 5; 
functions 34; tribunal 130. 


— 97 — 


Edification 

edification, spiritual 70; 
guests 70. 

election, of President, visitors, 
definers 113; seniors 7; 
abbot 85; method of, 85; 
by two thirds of votes 86; 
by President 86; a month 
after abbot’s death 87. 
ember week, decrees read 118. 
enter, cells, permission to 23; 
invitation to 24; boys not 
to 24. 

essays, published 67. 
examine books and periodi¬ 
cals 67. 

examination of conscience, 
particular, general 15; dai¬ 
ly? 9y Converses 75. 
example of prior 90. 
excommunication ch. 23; ch. 

44; by canons 99. 
excuse, for lateness at table 
49. 

exercises, spiritual, omission 
15; community 92; special 
for Lent 57. 
expulsion, see dismissal. 

Failings, against regular dis¬ 
cipline, corrected by prior 
90. 

family, monastic 71; spirit 
12; injury done to 12. 
fasts of church, 42; of Rule 
42. 

faults, chapter of 17, 52, 57; 
punishment of 17; accu¬ 
sation 17; commission 52. 
feet, washing of 64. 
fervor of charity 92; at 
prayer 15. 


Holy 

flesh-meat, abstinence from, 
use 44. 

food, measure, ch. 39, no. 40; 

amount 40; kinds 41. 
forms, of judicature 26; for 
dismissal 26; of agreement 
72. 

forwardness, of brethren 12, 
fratres, clerics 21; dormitor¬ 
ies 21. 

frugality, mindful of 61. 
functions, divine 34; eccle¬ 
siastical 34; public 83. 
fund, common, see treasury. 

General Chapter, see chap¬ 
ter general. 

golden, watches, snuffboxes, 
chains, knobs 33. 
goods, temporal, spiritual 77; 

of monastery, ch. 32. 
good will, obedience with 9. 
good works of congregation, 
sharers in 106.—see list, 
guests, received, honor due 
washing feet 64; associate 
with, taken to cells 66; at 
table 70; edification 70; 
give preference to 83; 
treatment of 92. 
guilt, confession in chapter 
97; punishment for 97. 

Habit, religious 69; admission 
to 72. 

hasten with speed 48. 
head, ask blessing by bow 84. 
health,* preserve—by walks 
37. 

help, another monastery 78. 
holy days, not for idleness 76. 
holy rule, prologue, 1; dero¬ 
gation from 2; precepts 2; 


— 98 - 


Holy 

spirit of the 1; of St. Bene¬ 
dict 1, 109, 110; reading 
39, 93; fasts of 42; obser¬ 
vance of, outside of monas¬ 
tery 58. 

holy scriptures, reading 39. 
Holy See, general chapter 
decrees approved 111, 117; 
delinquent abbot's case re¬ 
ferred to 129; oppressed 
appeal to 130; permission 
for alienations 3; letters 
from 67; litanies approved 
by, to be recited 75; con¬ 
firms abbot-elect 87. 
holy week, discourse forbid¬ 
den 11. 

honor, due to guests 64. 
hour, for the work of God, 
signifying of ch. 47. 
house, dependent 60. 

Idleness, avoid on holy days 
76. 

ill health, no cause to dismiss, 
26. 

impertinence of brethren 12. 
impossibilities, commanded 
to do ch. 68. 
inability, pretext of 96. 
independence of manasteries 
3, 109. 

independent priors—see con¬ 
ventual priors, 
indult apostolic, of exemp¬ 
tion 88; for diocese 44. 
infirmarian, appointment, 
duties 36. 

infirmary, utensils 36. 
inform, abbots—gen. chapter 
of valid impediment from 
attending 111; priors— 


Lent 

abbot, about serious mat¬ 
ters, 18; procurators—su¬ 
periors about the negligent 
help 29; infirmarian— 
abbot 36; master—chapter 
about novices 73; porter 
does not first—religious 92; 
instruction, of monks in 
liberal sciences, philoso¬ 
phy, theology, plain chant 
54; of Converse brothers 76. 

Journey, of brethren ch. 50; 
ch. 67; n. 65; blessing for 
94; permission 95; incon¬ 
venience of 58. 
jurisdiction of abbots 111; 
passes to prior 90; exemp¬ 
tion from—of bishop 88. 

Kindness, of porter and re¬ 
ligious 92. 

kinds, of monks 109; of food 
40, 41. 
kinship 73. 
kneel out 51. 

knobs of canes, gold, sil¬ 
ver 33. 

Language, threatening, vile, 
insulting 97. 
late —see tardiness, 
laws, of church 2; for con¬ 
gregation 117; of places 72. 
lay brothers—see Converses, 
lay persons as servers in 
kitchen 34. 

leave congregation 74. 
lent observance of, ch. 49, 56; 
recreation during 11; at 
beginning give list of ar¬ 
ticles 32; address of abbot 


-99 — 


Letters 

56; spirit of 56; special 
exercises 57; works 57. 
letters, receiving ch. 54; open¬ 
ing 67; published 67; 
from Holy See 67; appeal 
made by 130. 

liberty to roam about, to 
change domicile 109. 
librarian 31. 
library 30. 

life religious, call to 71; pro¬ 
mote 89. 

list of articles to abbot 32; 

good works 57. 
loan of books, agreement 
for 31. 

loss of time, reading papers 
67. 

Manner, of life 1; saluting 
crucifix 49; asking blessing 
84. 

manners, agreeableness 12; 

injury done to 12. 
manual work 71. 
mass, conventual 16; cele¬ 
bration 61; tablet 63; pre¬ 
sence at 75; serving 75, 76; 
reverence at 76; said daily 
■ 82; for the dead in own 
monastery 102; anniversary 
102; for deceased of other 
houses 104; annual for de¬ 
ceased of each monastery 
107; for deceased abbot 
104. 

master of novices 73; order 
of 83. 

matins, time, anticipate 14. 
matters, pertaining to govern¬ 
ment of congregation 111; 
transaction of important 


Monastery 

3; revelation of—trea¬ 
ted in chapter and councils 

8 . 

meals, time, 46; beginning 
70; see refection. 

measure, food 40; bread 43; 
drink 45. 

meat, use, abstinence 44. 

meditation, time, duration 
15. 

mind, soundness of 71. 

minutes of gen. chapter 114; 
of visitors 116; 120; of 
chapter 6. 

mission, monk alone on 61. 

mistakes, in choir, confusion, 
errors, stoppage, punish¬ 
ment 51. 

misunderstanding of breth¬ 
ren 100. 

moderation, when contra¬ 
dicting 10; of prior 90. 

modesty, religious 9, 10; with 
guests 92. 

monasteries 109; union 89, 
109; independence 109; 
congregation of 109; visi¬ 
tations 120; selected for 
gen. chapter 111; visitors 
of 126; assessed for general 
fund 122. 

monastery, liabilities of 3; 
declared independent 3; 
canonically established 3; 
annals 6; documents 6; seal 
6; regular discipline 7; 
deans and provosts of ch. 
21; priests of 20, 82; 

superior 26, 27; cellarer 27; 
procurator 28; tools and 
other goods ch. 32; monk 
sent from 30; monks out- 


— 100 — 


Monks 

side of 58, 62; oratory of 
ch. 52; books etc. brought 
to 67; domestic affairs 70; 
craftsmen 71; archives 78; 
administration 87; porter 
ch. 66. 

monks, kinds 109; professed 
5; dismissal and expulsion 
26; having simple vows 26; 
solemn vows 26; sent from 
monastery 30; advance¬ 
ment to priesthood 34; in¬ 
struction of 54; how to 
sleep, ch. 22; sent to 
St. Anselm 55; outside of 
monastery 58; remain 
alone on parish or mission 
61; companion 61; stranger 
ch. 61; deceased, mass for 
104; Holy Communion and 
prayers for 105. 

Necessity to help another 
house 78. 

neglect of confession, pun¬ 
ishment for 53. 
newspapers 67. 
night prayers 60. 
nobles, sons of ch. 59. 
non capitulars 8. 
novices, admission of 4; 73; 
sent to other novitiate 72; 
qualities of 73; instructed 
73; order of 80; deceased, 
when mass for 104; Holy 
Communion and prayers 
for 105. 

novitiate 73; 93; in each Ab¬ 
bey 72; trial of stranger 
monk 81. 


Peace 

Obedience, to abbot 109; re¬ 
ligious 9; to be rendered 
ch. 5; of discipline ch. 5; 
of Converses 76, 77; spirit 
of 92. 

obey under difficulties 96. 
observance, of the rule 109, 
111; of discipline 109; of 
decisions of President 119; 
silence 11; holy poverty 
32; Lent 56; usual—57; of 
rule outside of monastery 
58. 

office divine, ch. 8; ch. 16, 
n. 11, 51; performance 11; 
time 14; canonical 15; 
recitation of 61; mistakes 
confusion, stoppage of 51; 
presence at 65; of the dead 
102; for deceased of mona¬ 
stery 107. 

oratory, work at a distance 
from ch. 50; of monastery 
ch. 52; fault in 51; 
order, of appeal 10; of read¬ 
ing at table 39; of profes¬ 
sion 80; of priests in novi¬ 
tiate no prejudice to time 
of profession 80; of com¬ 
munity ch. 63; of priests, 
clerics, novices 80; ab¬ 
bots, priors, subprior, 
master of novices 83. 
order, admission from anoth¬ 
er. 81. 

Papers daily 67. 
parish, monk alone in 61. 
parlor 92. 

pay, for work 72. 
peace, injury done to 12; 
of appellant 130. 


• -101 


Penance 

penance, unjust 9; submis¬ 
sion 29; imposed by de¬ 
pendent prior 59; by su¬ 
perior 99; ‘prior enjoins 
90; determining of 99. 
periodicals, of monastery, 
reading of, abbot exam¬ 
ines 67. 

permanently to live 109. 
permission, for alienation 3; 
to call chapter 5; to enter 
cell 23; to speak ch. 6; of 
superiors 66; for journey 
general or special 95. 
perseverance 71. 
physician, asking advice 
of 36. 

place, archives 121; of re¬ 
treat 15; for sleeping 20,21; 
of recreation 45; for punish¬ 
ment 48, 51; of prayer 

• ch. 45; laws of 72;—to 
speak with woman 92. 
plain chant, instructed in 54. 
porter, of monastery ch. 66; 

duties, kindness of 92. 
postulant ch. 58, 81; see 
novices. 

poverty holy, observance 32; 
mindful of 61. 

power, of general chapter 
117; of superior 45. 
praeses, see president, 
prayer, vocal and mental 
15; application to 76; of 
Abbot 94; place of ch. 45; 
for deceased members 105. 
prelate, punishment inflicted 
by 53; discretion of 65; 
local has second place 83; 
sends death notice 103; 
see also abbot, superior. 


Prior 

presence at divine office 65; 
at chapter of faults 65; 
of brethren during recre¬ 
ation 11. 

president, 110; council of 
111; election 113; for six 
years 124; duties 111, 119; 
as first visitor 126; advice 
to be sought by 119, 126; 
recourse to 130; decisions 
of 119; appeal to 130; seal 
in possession of 120; docu¬ 
ments, reports 120, 121; in 
charge of treasury 122; 
power to dismiss 26; to sub¬ 
delegate 26; first place 83; 
elects abbot 86; signs de 
crees of transfer 78; recon¬ 
ciles brethren 100. 
presume to strike ch. 70. 
pretext of inability 96. 
priests of monastery 20, ch. 
60; ch. 62; cells of 20; 
order of 80; purity and 
innocence 82; mass for 
deceased 104; holy com¬ 
munion and prayers 105; 
notified about visitation 
126. 

primate, appeal to 130. 
prior, advice of 7; dispute 
with 10; appeal from 10; 
presence at retreat 15; in 
choir 17; at table 17; good 
example of 17, 90; holds 
chapter of faults 17; cor¬ 
rects faults 18; punishes 
18; holds discourse 47; 
office 19; prudence, mo¬ 
deration 90; order 83; ap¬ 
pointed by abbot 90; duties 
90; if wanting 90. 


— 102 — 


Prior 

prior approved by holy See, 
see conventual, 
privilege of title 4; deprived 
of—of voting 5; lost by 
dismissal 74, 
probation, year of 79. 
procurator, at gen. chapter 
111;—of monastery, ap¬ 
pointment, duties 27, 28, 
29; dependence 28; counsels 
with superior 28; keeps ac¬ 
count books 28; gives ac¬ 
count 28; assistants 29; 
admoni.shes converses 29; 
reports to superior 29; 
inspects departments 29. 
professed monks 5; under 
spiritual director 73. 
profession, of novices 73; time 
of 73, 80; order of 80; 
see vow. 

provincial synod 88. 
provosts of monastery ch. 21. 
proxy, vote by 85. 
prudence of prior 90. 
pruning knife, see sword, 
psalms reciting of 51. 
publish essays etc. 67. 
punishment, imposed by vis¬ 
itors 129; for faults 18; 
corporal 25; inflicted by 
prior 18, 90; by dependent 
prior 59; abbot 18; for 
tardiness 48; place of 48, 
51; for mistakes 51; time 
of 51; for neglect of con¬ 
fession 53; for wrong ap¬ 
peal 130. 


Regular 

Qualities, of assistant visi¬ 
tor 128; of clothes 68; 
of novices 73. 
quarreling 10. 

Reader weekly ch. 38. 
reading, at table 39, 70; 
order of 39; of Holy Scrip¬ 
tures, lives of saints and 
holy rule 39, 93; of dec¬ 
larations 39, 93; attention 
to 93; of periodicals 67; 
spiritual 15, 75; devout 

of Converses 76; of chapter 
XLIX at beginning of 
Lent 56. 

receive, guests, ch. 53; n. 64; 
letters and tokens ch. 54; 
brethren ch. 58; stranger 
monks ch. 61. 
reconcile brethren 100. 
recollection, interior, pre^ 
servation 11; exercise 15. 
record, of notable events 123; 

of benefactors, 123. 
recourse—see appeal, 
recreation, time of 11; during 
Lent 11; presence at and 
absence from 11; place of 
45. 

recusants, conduct and treat¬ 
ment of 96. 
redress 10. 
refection daily 40. 
refectory 70; converses place 
in 76. 

refuse, to be reconciled, pun¬ 
ishment for 100. 
regulations of places to be 
followed in agreement 72. 
regular discipline 7, 90, 65; 
preserved by visitation 


--103 — 


Religious 

126;—trial for dismissal 
26;—censure 5. 
religious, as procurator to 
gen. chapter 111; disputing 
10; unjustly oppressed 10; 
subdelegation of 26; to de¬ 
cide dismissal 26; con¬ 
verses are truly 77; sent 
out 7S; transferred 78; 
from another order 81; 
from another monastery of 
our order 81; not his own 
master 96; self will of 96. 
religious spirit, 1; obedience 
9; modesty 9, 10; poverty, 
mindful of 61;—life, to 
promote 89; call to—life 
71; —habit, admitted to 
72;—profession, age re¬ 
quired for 79; —state, 

conduct foreign to 96;— 
care, for the dead 101. 
reserve, godly 12; injury 
done to 12; during con¬ 
versation 61; with guest 
92. 

resignation of office, of offici¬ 
als 19; acceptance of 19. 
retreat, presence at, of abbot, 
prior, officials, time and 
place, annual, omission of 
15; decrees read at 118. 
return, right of 78. 
reverence, due to a father 6; 
in handling sacred utensils 
63; at Mass 76. 
right of president 125; of 
religious to return 78; 
and' privilege lost 74; of 
suffrage 108. 
rising, time of 14. 
rule, holy, prologue of 1; 


Seniors 

spirit of 1, 93; of St. Bene¬ 
dict 1, 109, 110; precepts 
of 2; lawful derogation 2; 
observance of 109, 111; 
discipline 109; reading of 
39, 93; fasts of 42; power 
given to Abbot 41; ob¬ 
servance outside of mona¬ 
stery 58; yoke of 78; writ¬ 
ing of 101; explaining of 
101. 

Sacrament Bl. visit to 75. 
sacred, canons, alienation ac¬ 
cording to 31; prescription 
of 26; rites, versed in 63; 
—utensils of church, hand¬ 
ling 63. 

sacristan, appointment of, 
assistant, duties, versed 
in sacred rites 63. 
satisfaction, making of 50,51. 
scandal 2; cause of 61. 
scrutinium, see discussion, 
scurrilities 13. 

seal of congregation, use of 
120; of monastery 6. 
secrecy, to be observed by 
assistant visitor 128; by 
members of gen. chapter 
116; by members of ch. 8. 
secretary of chapter 6; of 
gen. chapter 113. 
secular dress 71. 
secular, conversation with 
61; houses 62. 

secularised, loses right of 
suffrage 108. 

see, apostolic, permission ob¬ 
tained 3; recourse to 130; 
letters from 67. 
seniors advice of 7; number 


104 — 


Servers 

appointment, election of, 
consultation with 7. 
servers in kitchen ch. 35. 
service of kitchen 34. 
sharers of goods 77; in 
good works 106. 
shoes ch. 55. 
shoulders, bow of 49. 
sick, brethren, ch. 36; of 
monastery 35; obedience 
of 36; confession and 
communion of 38; care 
of 36; on journey 65. 
signifying, of hour ch. 47. 
silence, ch. 6; observance of 
11, 22; at table 70; in¬ 
dependent houses 60. 
simple vows 4, 20. 
sleep, ch. 22; no. 26; places 
to 20; outside of monas¬ 
tery 62. 

snuffboxes gold and silver 33. 
soundness of mind and body 

71. 

speak, permission to ch. 6; 
with strangers 92; with 
women 92. 

speed, hasten with 48. 
spirit, monastic, religious 1; 
of the rule 1, 93; of Lent 
56; of obedience 92. 
spiritual, exercises 15; omis¬ 
sion of 15;—superiors 53; 
—reading 15, 75. 
stability, vow of 109. 

St. Vincent’s Archabbey has 
archive of Congregation 
121 .“ 

stranger, wishing to speak, 
92; to speak with—92;— 
monks, reception of ch. 61. 


Superiors 

strike, to presiune ch. 70; 

malitiously 99. 
subdelegation, of religious 
to decide dismissal 26. 
subject to apostolic see 88. 
submission, to commands, to 
penances 9; patience in—9. 
subprior 7; order of 83; takes 
priors place 90. 
substitute for delegate 112; 
for visitors 128; appoint¬ 
ment of 128. 

superfluities, retrenching of 
32. 

superiors, inauguration of 
123; removal of 123; de¬ 
position of 123; explain 
matters for chapter 6; ap¬ 
peal to 9; dispute with 
10; despise command of 
10; insult, disrespect to 
10; of monastery 26, 27, 
54; will of 28, 57; com¬ 
mands of 28, 29; consult 
with procurator 28; per¬ 
mit buying books 30; per¬ 
mit speaking to physician 
36; allow to take guests'to 
cell 66; care of— for libra¬ 
ry 30; knowledge of for 
lending books 31; appoint 
infirmarian 36; power of— 
to increase measure of 
drink 45; appoint place in 
choir 48; excuses with 
49; judgment and dis¬ 
cretion in regard to amend¬ 
ment of excommunicated 
50; spiritual—53; appoint 
sacristan 63; persisting in 
their opinion 96; submis¬ 
sion to judgment of 96; 


— 105 — 


Supper 

enjoined duties and offices 
96; impose penances 99; 
reconcile brethren 100. 
supper time 46. 
sword of separation 26. 
synod, provincial, diocesan 
88 . 

Table, reading 39, 70; com¬ 
mon 70; abbot’s 70; silence 
at 70; converses 76; reading 
of rule and declarations 
at 93. 

tablet for masses, arrange¬ 
ment 63. 

tardiness in coming to choir 
48; to table 49. 
tax, see treasury, 
time of visitations 126; of 
office of president 124; 
of general chapter 111; of 
recreation and intercourse 
during Lent and holy week 
11; of matins and lauds 
14; of rising 14; of retreat 
15; of chapter of faults 
17; of meals 46; of con¬ 
fession 53; not to speak 
with strangers during— 
of divine office 92; loss 
of—67. 

tokens, receiving of ch. 54. 
tonsure 69. 

tools of monastery ch. 32. 
trade 71. 

transfer, of religious for life, 
decree of consent to 78. 
travel, see journey, 
treasurer, duties of, gives 
account 122. 

treasury, of congregation 


Vow 

founding of, purpose, con¬ 
tribution to 122. 
treatises, published without 
permission 67. 

Lhiiformity of discipline 109; 

of cut in clothing 68. 
unjustly oppressed 10. 
unwilling answer 10. 
utensils, of infirmary 36; 
lists of 36; sacred 63; hand¬ 
ling of 63. 

utility, to help a mona¬ 
stery 78. 


Vernacular, read rule in 
the 93. 

visitation of monasteries 
109; regular 126; special 
127; time of 126; minutes 
and reports of 116; as 
means to promote religious 
life 89. 

visitor edified by charity 92. 

visitors 126; election of 113; 
duties at gen. chapter 114; 
minutes of 116; of mona¬ 
steries 126; number 126; 
assistant 128; substitute 
127; duties 129; recourse 
to 130; expenses of 122; 
as president 125; if dead 
125; advice of 26. 

vote, majority of, tie, de¬ 
ciding 6; on novices 4, 78; 
active and passive 78; 
by proxy 85; number re¬ 
quired, absolute majority, 
plurality 86. 

vow, of stability 109; simple 
4, 26, 74; admission to 4; 
solemn, 26, 74; after three 


^106 - 




Walk 

years 74; triennial of 
y- converses 74; dispensation 
74; annulling 74. 

Walk, outside the enclosure, 
blessing before and after 
94. 

washing feet of guests 64. 
watches, gold 33. 
week, holy, recreation in 11. 
weekly reader ch. 38. 
will, good, shown by brethren 
ch. 5, no. 9; of superior 57. 


‘ Zeal 

woman, speaking with 92. 

work, of God, hour of ch. 47; 
manual—71; pay for 72; 
at distance from oratory 
ch. 50. 

works, good, list of 57; merit 
of 57; of congregation 106. 
sharers of 106. 

writings, alienation of 3; 
published 67. 

Yoke of rule 78. 

Zeal, godly 6. 




-■ % 



« 


•V* 



9 


S 













• i 




b 



<* * 




I 





» 

9 


' ^ 



I 




i. 


9 




r '■ 


'• • 


I 


«( 


9 




I 




I 



* 


•v 


»♦ 

» 











4 





I 



« 


4 



9V 


• 4 






• .:• k< 

« 




f 


4 


. * 

1^ A ?. 

tf. 


IiTa.’ V 





»- 


♦ _ 

I 

•> 

t 



/ 




.1 





r « 


t 




> 




I 




^ • 
- I 



% 






• » 
4 


. - 






• • 

•0 * 


■ 


1 


9 


% 


I • 




i* 

I 


r 



«■ 


t 


k 





4 


A 

) 


■ 


'v i 



'1 

• i 

.. ^ 


u 


**A 

■ " 




t 



fliA 


•cb ' 



V A 







1 



t 




I 







t 


m 


• ( 


« 













/ 


‘t 0 m 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper pro« 
Neutralizing agent; Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Feb. 2006 

PreservationTechnologi 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVAT 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Towrnship, PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 























